HS 

445 
N7A2. 




Gass. 
Book. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 






THE 

NEW YORK MASONIC CODE; 

CONTAINING THE 

OLD CHARGES, 

COMPILED IN 1720; 

CONSTITUTIONS AND GENERAL REGULATIONS 

OF THE 

GRAND LODGE OF NEW YORK, 

AND THE 

RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS, 

NOW IN FOKCE 
IN THAT M. W. GRAND BODY. 

COLLATED BY 

R W. WILLIAM T. WOODRUFF, 

PAST GRAND SCRIBE, 
SENIOR GRAND DEACON, MASTER OF MANHATTAN LODGE, NO. 62, ETC. 



NEW YORK 

MASONIC PUBLISHING AND MANUFACTUl 
432 BROOME STREET. 

1866, 



ITUPJNG CO., 



&*~0B$ i -/?&£ 



.Nlftz 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 18G6, by the 

MASONIC PUBLISHING AND MANUFACTURING CO., 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the 

Southern District of New York. 



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THE 

CHARGES OF A FREEMASON, 

EXTRACTED FROM THE 

Ancient Records of Lodges beyond Sea, and of those 

in England, Scotland, and Ireland, ( for the 

u^of the Lodges in London, 

TO BE READ AT THE 

MAKING OF NEW BRETHREN, 
OR WHEN THE MASTER SHALL ORDER IT. 

CHAEGE I. 

CONCERNING GOD AND RELIGION. 

A Mason is obliged by bis tenure to obey tbe moral law; 
and if be rightly understands the art, he will never be 
a stupid atheist nor an irreligious libertine. But though 
in ancient times Masons were charged in every country to 
be of the religion of that country or nation, whatever it 
was, yet it is now thought more expedient only to oblige 
them to that religion in which all men agree, leaving their 
particular opinions to themselves; that is, to be good men 
and true, or men of honor and honesty, by whatever 
denominations or persuasions they may be distinguished; 
whereby Masonry becomes the center of union, and the 
means of conciliating true friendship among persons that 
must have remained at a perpetual distance. 

CHAEGE II. 

OF THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE SUPREME AND SUBORDINATE. 

A Mason is a peaceable subject to the civil powers, 
wherever he resides or works, and is never to be concerned 



4: MASONIC CODE. 

in plots and conspiracies against the peace and welfare of 
the nation, nor to behave himself undutifully to inferior 
magistrates; for as Masonry hath been always injured by 
war, bloodshed and confusion, so ancient kings and princes 
have been much disposed to encourage the craftsmen, be- 
cause of their peaceableness and loyalty, whereby they 
practically answered the cavils of their adversaries, and 
promoted the honor of the Fraternity, who ever flourished 
in times of peace. So that if a brother should be a rebel 
against the State, he is not to be countenanced in his rebel- 
lion, however he may be pitied as an unhappy man; and if 
convicted of no other crime, though the loyal brotherhood 
must and ought to disown his rebellion, and give no 
umbrage or ground of political jealousy to the government 
for the time being; they cannot expel him from the Lodge, 
and his relation to it remains indefeasible. 

CHARGE III. 

OF LODGES. 

A Lodge is a place where Masons assemble and work: 
hence that assembly, or duly organized society of Masons, 
is called a Lodge, and every brother ought to belong to 
one, and to be subject to its by-laws and the general regu- 
lations. It is either particular or general, and will be best 
understood by attending it, and by the regulations of the 
general or Grand Lodge hereunto annexed. In ancient 
times, no Master or fellow could be absent from it, 
especially when warned to appear at it, without incurring a 
severe censure, until it appeared to the Master and Wardens 
that pure necessity hindered him. 

The persons admitted members of a Lodge must be good 
and true men, free born, and of mature and discreet age, no 
bondmen, no women, no immoral or scandalous men, but 
of good report. 



CHARGES OF A FREEMASON. 5 

CHAKGE IV. 

OF MASTERS, WARDENS, FELLOWS AND APPEENTICES. 

All preferment among Masons is grounded upon real 
Worth and personal merit only; that so the lords may be 
well served, the brethren not put to shame, nor the Royal 
Craft despised: therefore no Master or Warden is chosen 
by seniority; but for his merit. It is impossible to describe 
these things in writing, and every brother must attend in 
his place, and learn them in a way peculiar to this Frater- 
nity. Only candidates may know, that no Master should 
take an Apprentice, unless he has sufficient employment 
for him, and unless he be a perfect youth, having no maim 
or defect in his body, that may render him incapable of 
learning the art of serving his Master's Lord, and of being 
made a brother, and then a Fellow Craft in due time, even 
after he has served such a term of years as the custom of 
the country directs; and that he should be descended of 
honest parents ; that so, when otherwise qualified, he may 
arrive to the honor of being the Warden, and then the 
Master of the Lodge, the Gra*nd Warden, and at length the 
Grand Master of all the Lodges, according to his merit. 

No brother can be a Warden until he has passed the part 
of a Fellow-Craft; nor a Master until he has acted as a 
Warden, nor Grand Warden until he has been Master of a 
Lodge, nor Grand Master unless he has been a Fellow- 
Craft before his election, who is also to be nobly born, or a 
gentleman of the best fashion, or some eminent scholar, or 
some curious architect or other artist, descended of honest 
parents, and who is of singular great merit in the opinion 
of the Lodges. And for the better and easier and more 
honorable discharge of his office, the frrand Master has a 
power to choose his own Deputy Grand Master, who must 
be then, or must have been formerly, the Master of a 



6 MASONIC CODE. 

particular Lodge, and has the privilege of acting whatever 
the Grand Master, his principal, should act, unless the said 
principal be present, or interpose his authority by a letter. 
These rulers and governors, supreme and subordinate of 
the ancient Lodge, are to be obeyed in their respective sta- 
tions by all the brethren, according to the old charges and 
regulations, with all humility, reverence, love, and alacrity. 

CHARGE V. 

OF THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CRAFT IN WORKING. 

All Masons shall work honestly on, working days, that 
they may live creditably on holy days; and the time ap- 
pointed by the law of the land, or confirmed by custom, 
shall be observed. 

The most expert of the fellow-craftsmen shall be chosen 
or appointed the Master or Overseer of the lord's work ; who 
is to be called Master by those that work under him. The 
craftsmen are to avoid all ill language, and to call each other 
by no disobliging name, but brother or fellow; and to be- 
have themselves courteously within and without the Lodge. 

The Master, knowing himself to be able of cunning, shall 
undertake the lords's work as reasonably as possible, and 
truly dispend his goods as if they were his own; nor to give 
. more wages to any brother or Apprentice than he really may 
deserve. 

Both the Master and the Masons receiving their wages 
justly, shall be faithful to the lord, and honestly finish their 
work, whether task or journey; nor put the work to task 
that hath been accustomed to journey. 

None shall discover envy at the prosperity of a brother, nor 
supplant him, or put him out of his work, if he be capable 
to finish the same; for no man can finish another's work so 
much to the lord's profit, unless he be thoroughly acquaint- 
ed with the designs and draughts of him that began it. 



CHAKGES OF A FREEMASON. 7 

When a fellow-craftsman is chosen Warden of the work 
under the Master, he shall be true both to Master and 
fellows, shall carefully oversee the work in the Master's 
absence to the lord's profit; and his brethren shall obey him. 

All Masons employed shall meekly receive their wages 
without murmuring or mutiny, and not desert the Master 
till the work is finished. 

A younger brother shall be instructed in working, to 
prevent spoiling the materials for want of judgment, and 
for increasing and continuing of brotherly love. 

All the tools used in working shall be approved by the 
Grand Lodge. 

No laborer shall be employed in the proper work of 
Masonry; nor shall Freemasons work with those that are 
not free, without an urgent necessity; nor shall they teach 
laborers and unaccepted Masons, as they should teach a 
brother or fellow. 

CHAKGE VI. 

OF BEHAVIOR VIZ. IN THE LODGE WHILE CONSTITUTED. 

1. You are not to hold private committees, or separate 
conversation without leave from the Master, nor to talk of 
anything impertinent or unseemly, nor interrupt the Master 
or Wardens, or any brother speaking to the Master; nor 
behave yourself ludicrously or jestingly while the Lodge is 
engaged in what is serious and solemn ; nor use any unbe- 
coming language upon any pretence whatsoever; but to pay 
due reverence to your Master, Wardens, and fellows, and 
put them to worship. 

If any complaint be brought, the brother found guilty 
shall stand to the award and determination of the Lodge, 
who are the proper and competent judges of all such con- 
troversies, (unless you carrry it by appeal to the Grand 
Lodge), and to whom they ought to be referred, unless a 



8 MASONIC CODE. 

lord's work be hindered the meanwhile, in which case a 
particular reference may be made; but you must never go 
to law about what concerneth Masonry, without an absolute 
necessity apparent to the Lodge. 

BEHAVIOR AFTER THE LODGE IS OVER AND THE BRETHREN 
NOT GONE. 

2. You may enjoy yourselves with innocent mirth, treat- 
ing one another according to abilty, but avoiding all excess, 
or forcing any brother to eat or drink beyond his inclina- 
tion, or hindering him from going when his occasions call 
him, or doing or saying anything offensive, or that may 
forbid an easy and free conversation, for that would blast 
our harmony, and defeat our laudable purposes. Therefore, 
no private piques or quarrels must be brought within the 
door of the Lodge, far less any quarrels about religion, or 
nations, or state policy, we being only, as Masons, of the 
catholic religion above-mentioned ; we are also of all 
nations, tongues, kindreds, and languages, and are resolved 
against all politics, as what never yet conduced to the wel- 
fare of the Lodge, nor ever will. This charge has been 
always strictly enjoined and observed; but especially ever 
since the reformation in Britain, or the dissent and secession 
of these nations from the communion of Rome. 

BEHAVIOR WHEN BRETHREN MEET WITHOUT STRANGERS, BUT 
NOT IN A LODGE FORMED. 

3. You are to salute one another in a courteous manner, 
as you w T ill be instructed, calling each other brother, freely 
giving mutual instruction as shall be thought expedient, 
without being overseen or overheard, and without encroach- 
ing upon each other, or derogating from that respect which 
is due to brother, were he not a Mason: for, though all 
Masons are as brethren upon the same level, yet Masonry 



CHARGES OF A FREEMASON. tf 

takes no honor from a man that he had before; nay, rather 
it adds to his honor, especially if he has deserved well of 
the brotherhood, who must give honor to whom it is due, 
and avoid ill manners. 

BEHAVIOE IN PEESENCE OF STEANGEES NOT MASONS. 

4. You shall be cautions in your words and carriage, that 
the most penetrating stranger shall not be able to discover 
or find out what is not proper to be intimated; and some- 
times you shall divert a discourse, and manage ft prudently 
for the honor of the worshipful Fraternity. 

BEHAVIOE AT HOME AND IN YOUE NEIGHBOEHOOD. 

5. You are to act as becomes a moral and wise man; par- 
ticularly not to let your family, friends, and neighbors know 
the concerns of the Lodge, etc., but wisely to consult your 
own honor, and that of the ancient brotherhood, for reasons 
not to be mentioned here. You must also consult your 
health, by not continuing together too late, or too long 
from home, after Lodge hours are past; and by avoiding 
of gluttony or dunkenness, 'that your families be not 
neglected, or injured, nor you disabled from working. 

BEHAVIOE TOWAED A STEANGE BEOTHEE. 

6. You are cautiously to examine him, in such a method 
as prudence shall direct you, that you may not be imposed 
upon by an ignorant false pretender, whom you are to reject 
with contempt and derision, and beware of giving him any 
hints of knowledge. 

But if you discover him to be a true and genuine brother, 
you are to respect him accordingly; and if he is in want, 
you must relieve him if you can, or else direct him how he 
may be relieved. You must employ him some days, or else 
recommend him to be employed. But you are not charged 



10 MASONIC CODE. 

to do bej^ond your ability, only to prefer a poor brother, 
that is a good man and true, before any other poor people 
in the same circumstances. 

Finally, all these charges you are to observe, and also 
those that shall be communicated to you in another way; 
cultivating brotherly love, the foundation and copestone, 
the cement and glory of this ancient Fraternity, avoiding 
all wrangling and quarreling, all slander and backbiting, 
nor permitting others to slander any honest brother, but 
defending his character, and doing him all good offices, as 
far as is consistent with your honor and safety, and no 
farther. And if any of them do you injury, you must apply 
to your own or his Lodge; and from thence you may appeal 
to the Grand Lodge at the quarterly communication, and 
from thence to the annual Grand Lodge, as has been the 
ancient laudable conduct of our forefathers in every nation; 
never taking a legal course but when the case cannot be 
otherwise decided, and patiently listening to the honest and 
friendly advice of Master and fellows, when they would 
prevent your going to law with strangers, or would excite ■ 
you to put a speedy period to all lawsuits, that so you may 
mind the affair of Masonry with the more alacrity and suc- 
cess. But with respect to brothers or fellows at law, the 
Master and brethren should kindly offer their mediation, 
which ought to be thankfully submitted to by the contend- 
ing brethren; and if that submission is impracticable, they 
must, however, carry on their process, or lawsuit, without 
wrath and rancor (not in the common way') saying or doing 
nothing which may hinder brotherly love, and good offices 
to be renewed and continued; that air may see the benign 
influence of Masonry, as all true Masons have done from 
the beginning of the world, and will do to the end of time. 

Amen — So mote it be. 



CONSTITUTIONS 



GENERAL REGULATIONS 



M. W. GRAND LODGE 



STATE OF NEW YORK. 



Hart I. 

POWERS AND PRIVILEGES. 
TITLE I. 

OE MASONIC GOVERNMENT. 

§ 1. The government of Free and Accepted Masons is 
reposed — 

1. In Grand Lodges; and, 

2. In Subordinate; or, Particular Lodges. 

§ 2. A Grand Lodge is a body of Masons in whom is 
inalienably vested the government and superintendence of 
the Fraternity within its territorial jurisdiction, and is 
primarily composed of its Grand Officers, and the Masters 
and Wardens, or their proxies, of the several subordinate 
Lodges under its jurisdiction. It may also enlarge or 
dimmish the number and qualifications of its members at 
its pleasure, by a provision or change of its Constitution. 



12 GRAND LODGE. 

§ 3. A subordinate or particular Lodge consists of a 
Master, a Senior and Junior Warden, a Treasurer, a Secre- 
tary, a Senior and Junior Deacon, a Tiler, and as many 
members as may be convenient, congregating and working 
by virtue of a warrant held under the Grand Lodge, having 
lawful jurisdiction over it, and at the place 6. ^signated in 
the warrant or by the Grand Lodge. 

TITLE II. 

OF MASONIC LAWS. 

§ 4. The action of Freemasons in their Grand or subordi- 
nate Lodges, or in their individual character, is regulated 
and controlled — 

1. By Ancient Landmarks; or, the unwritten law of 
Masonry; 

2. By Written Constitutions and General [Regulations; 
and, 

3. By Usages, Cqstoms, Rules, Edicts and Resolutions, 
having the force of General Regulations. 

§ 5. The Ancient Landmarks are those principles of 
Masonic government and polity which are the only part of 
Masonic law or rule of government that may never be 
altered or disturbed, and such of them as are lawful to be 
written are usually, but not wholly, engrafted in the written 
Constitutions and General Regulations. 

§ 6. Constitutions are those written compacts or laws 
adopted by Freemasons for the government of a Grand 
Lodge and its subordinate Lodges and their members; in- 
cluding General Regulations, constitutionally adopted, that 
are intended to be permanent in their character. 

§ 7. General Regulations, Usages and Customs, Rules, 
Edicts and Resolutions, are those Masonic rules of action 
adopted, by competent authority, for local or temporary 



CONSTITUTIONS. 13 

purposes, admitting of change at convenience, and not 
embraced in Ancient Landmarks or Constitutions, and are 
frequently termed By-Laws. But when they so operate as 
.to alter, modify, or otherwise affect the Constitutions, as 
denned in section sixth, they are also styled Constitutions. 
§ 8. Th* following are enumerated as Ancient Landmarks 
of the Fraternity; having, as such, been universally received! 
and acknowledged by Masons: 

1. That belief in the Supreme Being, "The Great' 
Architect of the Universe," who will punish vice and* 
reward virtue, is an indispensable pre-requisite to 
admission to Masonry; 

2. That the moral law which inculcates charity; and; 
probity, industry and sobriety, and obedience to law 
and civil government, is the rule and guide of every. 
Mason, and to which strict conformity is required; 

3. That obedience to Masonic law and authority,, being- 
voluntarily assumed, is of perpetual obligation, and; 
can only be divested by the sanction of the supreme.' 
government in Masonry; 

4. That the rites and ceremonies (which include the 
unwritten language) of the true system of the Ancient 
York rite, and which constitute a part of the body of 
Masonry, are immutable, and that it is not in the 
power of any man, or body of men, to make inno- 
vations therein; 

5. That contention and lawsuits between brethren are- 
contrary to the laws and regulations of Masonry; 

6. That charity is the right of a Mason, his widow and* 
orphans, when poor and destitute, to demand, and: 
the duty of his prosperous brother to bestow; 

7. That Masonic instruction is, like charity, a reciprocal; 
right and duty of Masons; 



14 GRAND LODGE. 

8. That the right to visit, masonicaJly, is an absolute 
right, but may be forfeited or limited by particular 
regulations; 

9. That men made Masons must at least be twenty-one 
years of age, free born, of good report, hale and 
sound, not deformed or dismembered, and no woman, 
no eunuch; 

10. That no one can be made a Mason except in a lawful 
Lodge, duly convened, acting (except when made by 
the Grand Master at sight) under an unreclaimed 
warrant or dispensation, and at the place therein 
named; 

11. That the Grand Master may make Masons at sight, 
in person, and in a lawful Lodge, and may grant a 
dispensation to a Lodge, for the same purpose; but 
in all other cases a candidate must be proposed in 
open Lodge, at a stated meeting, and can only be 
accepted at a stated meeting following, by the scrutiny 
of a secret ballot, and an unanimous vote, and must 
pay a fixed price before admission; 

12. That the ballot for candidates or for membership is 
strictly and inviolably secret ; 

13. That a petition to be made a Mason, after being 
presented and referred, cannot be withdrawn, but 
must be acted upon by report of committee and 
ballot; 

14. That a ballot for each degree separately is an un- 
deniable right, when demanded; 

15. That initiation makes a man a Mason; but he must 
receive the Master Mason's degree, and sign the By- 
Laws, before he becomes a member of the Lodge; 

16. That it is the duty of every Master Mason to be a 
contributing member of a Lodge; 



CONSTITUTIONS. 15 

17. That a Lodge under dispensation is but a temporary 
and inchoate body, and is not entitled to representa- 
tion in the Grand Lodge, and those who work it do 

not forfeit their membership thereby in any other 
Lodge, while it so continues, but such membership 
is thereby suspended; 

18. That the Master and Wardens of every warranted 
Lodge must be chosen annually by its members, and 
if installed, cannot resign their offices during the 
term for which they were elected; and are, of right 
and inalienably, representatives in and members of 
the Grand Lodge; and in case they do not attend the 
Grand Lodge, a proxy may be appointed by the 
Lodge to represent it in the Grand Lodge, who in 
such case shall have three votes; 

19. That no one can be elected Master of a warranted 
Lodge (except at its first election) but a Master 
Mason who shall have served as Warden ; 

20. That no appeal to the Lodge can be taken from the 
decision of the Master, or the Warden occupying the 
chair in his absence ; 

21. That every Mason must be tried by his peers; and 
hence the Master cannot be tried by his Lodge ; 

22. That Masonic intercourse with a clandestine or 
expelled Mason is a breach of duty, and an offense 
against Masonic law; 

23. That a restoration to the privileges of Masonry by 
the Grand Lodge does not restore to membership in 
a subordinate Lodge ; 

24. That a Mason who is not a member of any Lodge is 
still subject to the disciplinary power of Masonry. 

25. That the disciplinary powers of a Lodge may not be 
exercised for a violation of the moral law (as distin- 



16 GRAND LODGE. 

guished from the law of the land), until the offender 
has been thrice admonished by the Master or Wardens 
of his Lodge; * 

26. That a failure to meet by a Lodge for one year is 
cause for the forfeiture of its warrant; 

27. That it is the duty, as well as the right, of every 
warranted Lodge to be represented in the Grand 
Lodge at its annual communication; 

28. That a Grand Lodge has supreme and exclusive 
jurisdiction, within its territorial limits, over all 
matters of Ancient Craft Masonry; 

29. That no appeal lies from the decision of a Grand 
Master in the chair, or his Deputy or Warden occu- 
pying the chair in his absence ; 

30. That the office of Grand Master is always elective, 
and should be filled annually by the Grand Lodge ; 

31. That a Grand Lodge, composed of its officers and of 
representatives, must meet at least once in each year 
to consult and act concerning the interests of the 
Fraternity in its jurisdiction. 

Besides these there are various landmarks which consti- 
tute the frame- work of the government of the Fraternity; 
and the indispensable discharge of various duties and 
relations growing out of them, which are incorporated in 
this Constitution; and also those matters regulating and 
attending the ceremonies and work of Masonry, which are 
not proper to be written; and various other duties and 
rights more fully set forth in the " Ancient Charges," which 
are herewith published, being a part of the Constitutions 
of Freemasons. 



CONSTITUTIONS. 17 

TITLE III. 

OF GEAND LODGES. 

§ 9. The powers and privileges of a Grand Lodge are: 

1. Executive; 

2. Legislative; and 

3. Judicial. 

The exercise of these powers and privileges is denned in 
particular Constitutions and general regulations, which it 
has an inalienable right to frame and adopt at its own 
convenience, and to alter, amend, add to, or repeal at its 
pleasure, under the limitations therein imposed; and are 
final and conclusive upon all parties concerned, until altered 
or reversed by the Grand Lodge. But nothing can be 
adopted in derogation of the ancient landmarks; nor can 
any legislative act or general regulation be passed affecting 
the interests of the whole Fraternity, except at a stated 
annual communication. These powers and privileges are 
supreme and exclusive within its jurisdiction, over all that 
appertains to Ancient Craft Masonry. 

§ 10. All the executive powers of a Grand Lodge when 
not in session # are reposed in its Grand Master. 

§ 11. The legislative powers of a Grand Lodge extend 
to every case of legislation not delegated or reserved to 
subordinate lodges. 

§ 12. The judicial powers of a Grand Lodge are of two 
Trinds : 

1. Obiginal: Embracing all matters of controversy which 
may arise between any of the subordinate lodges under its 
jurisdiction, or the members of different lodges, and the 
enforcement of discipline upon its own members, and the 
lodges under its jurisdiction; and upon individual Masons; 
and 

2. Appellate: Embracing all matters of controversy and 

2 



18 GKAND LODGE. 

discipline proper for Masonic investigation arising in any 
subordinate Lodge, and over which it has not original 
jurisdiction. 

§ 13. All governmental powers, whether executive, legis- 
lative, or judicial, not expressly delegated by the Grand 
Lodge, are inherent in and reserved to it, as the supreme 
governing body. 

TITLE IV. 

OF SUBORDINATE LODGES. 

§ 14 The powers and privileges of a subordinate or par- 
ticular Lodge are such as are denned in its warrant, by the 
Constitutions of the Grand Lodge granting the same, and 
the ancient landmarks and general regulations. They are 
divided into — 

1. Executive: In the direction and performance of its 
work, under the control of its Master, and in all other 
matters in aid of the Master, who has the primary 
•executive power of a Lodge; 

2. Legislative: Embracing all matters relating to its 
internal concerns not in derogation of the ancient land- 
marks, the Constitutions and general regulations of 
the Grand Lodge, and its own particular by-laws; and 

3. Judicial: Embracing the exercise of discipline, and 
settlement of controversies between and over all its 
members (except the Master), and over all Masons and 
non-affiliated brethren within its jurisdiction, subject 
to an appeal to the Grand Lodge. 

§ 15. Lodges shall take precedency according to the 
seniority of their respective warrants. 
§ 16. A Lodge can only be organized by 

1. The dispensation of the Grand Master, or Deputy Grand 
Master; or, 

2. The warrant of the Grand Lodge having jurisdiction; 



CONSTITUTIONS. 19 

and in either case only upon the application of not 
less than seven regular Master Masons. 
§ 17. A Lodge can only be dissolved, 

1. By the act of the Grand Lodge whereby its warrant is 
forfeited; and 

2. By a voluntary surrender of its warrant, pursuant* to a 
vote of a majority of the members, when duly sum-: 
moned for that purpose, with notice of the object of 
meeting. 

§ 18. The acts by which a warrant may be forfeited are: 

1. Contumacy to the authority of the Grand Master, or 
Grand Lodge; 

2. Departure from the original plan of Masonry and 
Ancient Landmarks; 

3. Disobedience to the Constitutions; and, 

4. Ceasing to meet for one year or more. 

The surrender or forfeiture of a warrant, when declared 
by the Grand Lodge, shall be conclusive upon the Lodge 
and its members, and carries with it all the property of the 
Lodge, which becomes the property of the Grand Lodge, 
and must, on demand, be surrendered by the last Master, 
or whoever has its custody, to the Grand Lodge or its 
authorized agent. 

§ 19. No warrant of a Lodge can be forfeited except upon 
charges regularly made in Grand Lodge, at its annual com- 
munication, of which due notice shall be given the Lodge, 
and an opportunity of being heard in defense; but it may 
be suspended by the Grand Lodge, or Grand Master, or 
Deputy Grand Master, at any time, upon proper cause 
shown, which suspension shall not extend beyond the next 
annual communication. No dispensation can issue to form 
a new Lodge without the recommendation of all the lodges 
whose jurisdiction shall be affected by such dispensation, 



20 GRAND LODGE. 

except in cities, nor within three months next preceding an 
annual communication; nor shall a warrant be issued to 
such body of Masons, unless they show that they are clear 
from all indebtedness ; nor until the Lodge shall have given 
proof of its skill by labor under dispensation, and furnished 
a certificate from the nearest Lodge of its ability to confer 
the degrees and give the lectures. 

§ 20. A Lodge may not remove its place of meeting from 
the city, town, or village, named in its warrant; nor from 
one place to another in the same city, town, or village, 
except by a concurrent vote of two-thirds of the members 
present, at a meeting to be appointed by the summons to 
attend such meeting, stating its object, and which summons 
must be served at least ten days previous to such meeting; 
and such removal from the city, town, or village, muse 
receive the sanction of the Grand Lodge previous thereto. 
Every Lodge should meet at least once in each month, for 
the dispatch of business. 

§ 21. A Lodge has full power and authority to enact 
by-laws for its own government, conformably to its Grand 
Lodge Constitutions and the principles of Masonry; and 
any by-laws inconsistent therewith are absolutely void. 

§ 22. A Lodge has power to initiate, pass, or raise but 
five candidates at the same communication; nor shall the 
third degree ever be conferred in a less interval than four 
weeks from the time of initiation, except by dispensation 
from the Grand Master or his Deputy, nor without proof 
of proficiency before advancement. 

§ 23. A Lodge may not initiate any person without due 
inquiry, and without being satisfied, in a Masonic manner, 
that he has not been previously rejected, or otherwise 
refused admission to Masonry; and if upon inquiry it shall 
be so ascertained, then not until six months after such 



CONSTITUTIONS. 21 

rejection or refusal; nor until written permission shall be 
obtained from the Lodge that rejected him; nor shall any 
visitor be admitted without like inquiry and satisfaction as 
to his regular standing, and that his admission will not dis- 
turb the harmony of the Lodge, or embarrass its works; nor 
can a resident of any town, village, or city, where there is 
a Lodge, claim a right to be admitted as a visitor more than 
twice, unless he is a member of some subordinate Lodge. 

TITLE Y. 

OF INDrVIDTJAL MASONS. 

§ 24. Individual Masons are of four kinds: 

1. Members of a subordinate Lodge, pursuant to its Con- 
stitution and by-laws, called affiliated brethren; 

2. Entered Apprentices and Fellow-Crafts made in, or 
attached to, a Lodge: 

3. Members of a subordinate Lodge by adoption, called 
honorary members; and 

4. Individual Masons not in membership in any Lodge, 
but subject to its control and discipline, territorially 
or otherwise, called non-affiliated brethren. 

§ 25. Membership in a Lodge can only be acquired by 
unanimous consent, and in two modes: 

1. By dispensation of a Grand Master, or warrant from a 
Grand Lodge, in case of the institution of a new Lodge; 
and, 

2. By previous proposal, and a ballot thereon, which 
must be unanimous. 

And no Mason can be in full membership in more than 
one Lodge at the same time; but this does not extend to 
honorary membership; nor shall a brother in full member- 
ship in one Lodge be admitted an acting member of another 
Lodge, without a regular and honorable discharge from his 



22 GRAND LODGE. 

first membership, or where the Lodge has ceased to wcrk, 
§ 26. Membership in a Lodge can only be terminated: 

1. By voluntary demission; 

2. By the Lodge ceasing to have a legal existence ; and, 

3. By the suspension or expulsion of the member. 
Demission is the joint act of the Lodge and the member, 

(but a member may withdraw to assist in forming a new 
Lodge, and on the granting of its warrant, ceases to be a 
member of his former Lodge. ) Expulsion is the action of 
the Grand Lodge or of the subordinate Lodge; and sus- 
pension is the act of the Lodge only. 

§ 27. Full membership in a Lodge is necessary to con- 
stitute eligibility to office in a Grand or subordinate Lodge, 
or to constitute and continue membership in the Grand 
Lodge; except, only, that the Tiler of a subordinate Lodge 
need not be a member of the particular Lodge for which 
he acts. 

TITLE VI. 

OF GEAND LODGE OFEICEBS. 

§ 28. The officers of the Grand Lodge are elective or 
appointed, and hold their offices for one year, or until their 
successors are chosen and installed. 

§ 29. The elective officers of the Grand Lodge are : the 
Grand Master (whose style is Most Worshipful), Deputy 
Grand Master, Senior Grand Warden, Junior Grand Warden, 
Grand Treasurer, Grand Secretary, three Grand Chaplains 
(the style of all of whom is Right Worshjpful), Grand 
Pursuivant and Grand Tyler (whose style is Worshipful). 

§ 30. The appointed officers of the Grand Lodge are — a 
Grand Marshal, Grand Standard Bearer, Grand Sword 
Bearer, Grand Stewards, Senior Grand Deacon and Junior 
Grand Deacon (the style of all of whom is, also, Bight 
Worshipful). 



CONSTITUTIONS. 23 

§ 31. The rank of the Officers, both elective and appointed, 
* is in the order here mentioned; except that the Grand 
Pursuivant and Grand Tiler shall take rank after the ap- 
pointed officers; and an election to and installation in the 
first six elective officers hereinbefore named constitutes 
them and the other elected and appointed officers members 
of the Grand Lodge. 

§ 32. Elective officers of the Grand Lodge must be 
chosen at its Annual Communication, by ballot (unless it 
be unanimously resolved at the time to take the vote by 
show of hands), and by a majority of votes; appointed 
officers are selected by the Grand Master, and hold during 
his pleasure. It may have such additional officers as its 
necessities or objects require, to be provided by a General 
Regulation. 

§ 33. Installations of the officers of the Grand Lodge 
must take place during the Annual Communication at 
which they are elected; and vacancies may be filled by 
temporary appointment from the Grand Master, till the 
next annual election, having "reference to the precedency 
of Lodges, and the fitness of the brethren selected. 

§ 34. Each regular member of the Grand Lodge has one 
vote, and the acting Grand Master an additional vote, in 
case of an equal division; and each Lodge is entitled to 
three votes, without reference to the number of its repre- 
sentatives present; and a Grand Officer may vote both as 
such and as a representative. 



24 



GRAND LODGE. 



TITLE VII. 

OP SUBORDINATE LODGE OFFICERS. 

§ 35. The Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, 
Treasurer and Secretary of a subordinate Lodge must be 
chosen annually, by ballot, and by a majority of votes, and 
be installed on, or before, the next stated communication 
thereafter. Every Lodge can provide for such additional 
officers, to be either elected or appointed, as may be desig- 
nated by its by-laws, and as circumstances may require. 

§ 38. Every member in good standing is entitled to one 
vote, and every voter is eligible to any office in the Lodge, 
except that of Master. 

§ 37. No member can be Master of a Lodge unless he 
has previously been installed, and served as an elected 
Warden for one year, except at the institution of a new 
Lodge, when no Warden or Past Master is found to serve 
as Master. 

§ 38. A Lodge may fill vacancies in office, except those 
of Master and Wardens, by ballot, at any stated communi- 
cation, upon full notice to the members; but in case of 
vacancy in the office of Master, an election can only be held 
by virtue of a dispensation from the Grand Master, which 
is without fee, and is to be applied for by a vote of two- 
thirds of all the members, to be so certified by the Secretary. 

§ 39. Vacancies in office can only occur either in a Grand 
Lodge or its subordinates: 

1. By death; 

2. By resignation; 

3. By removal beyond the jurisdiction; and 

4. By suspension or expulsion. 



CONSTITUTIONS. 25 

TITLE VIII. 

OF THE POWERS OF OFFICERS. 

§ 40. The Grand Master has power: 

1. To convene any Lodge within the jurisdiction ; to 
preside therein; to inspect their proceedings, and 
require their conformity to Masonic rules; 

2. To require the attendance of, and information from, 
any Grand officer respecting his office ; 

3. To make Masons at sight,, in a Lodge, and may 
summon such brethren to assist him as he may deem 
necessary; and may, by written dispensation, delegate 
this power to a Lodge, in respect to a particular 
individual; 

4. To grant dispensations for new lodges, on proper 
application, when the Grand Lodge is not in session; 

5. To appoint representatives, by warrant, in any other 
recognized Grand Lodge, and receive and accredit such 
representatives from other Grand Lodges; and, 

6. When the Grand Lodge is not in session, may exercise 
all its executive functions. 

§ 41. In case of the death, absence, or inability of the 
Grand Master, or a vacancy in his offiee, the Deputy Grand 
Master, Senior Grand Warden, and Junior Grand Warden, 
will, in succession, succeed to his prerogatives and duties 
for all purposes. 

§ 42. The Master of a Lodge shall have the power; 

1. Of congregating the members of his Lodge upon any 
emergency; 

2. Issuing summonses whenever required; and, 

3. Of discharging all the executive functions of the Lodge. 
§ 43. In case of the death, absence, or inability of the 

Master, or a vacancy in his office, the Senior and Junior 
Wardens will, in succession, succeed to his prerogatives 
and duties for all purposes. 



26 



GRAND LODGE. 



§ 44. No Past Officer has any powers or privileges as such, 
except the respect due to his standing, skill, and experience, 
save what is expressly given him by the constitutions of 
his Grand Lodge. 

TITLE IX. 

OF PENALTIES. 

§ 45. The penalties imposed by the Masonic law, are: 

1. Suspension, which is either limited or indefinite ; and, 

2. Expulsion, which always implies a termination, not 
only of his Masonic intercourse and connection with 
the body inflicting it, but from the Masonic Fraternity, 
unless an appeal be made. 

§ 46. Suspension applies to lodges, as well as individuals, 
and when inflicted upon a Lodge it suspends all its mem- 
bers, unless expressly excepted. Suspension and expulsion 
imply interdiction of all Masonic intercourse with the 
delinquents, while in force. 

§ 47. Suspension is only inflicted where the offense is 
against some police or temporary regulation of the Frater- 
nity; expulsion follows a gross violation of the moral law, 
or the fundamental principles of Masonry, or attempts 
against any part of the framework of its government. 
Neither shall be published to any but Masons, except by 
permission of the Grand Lodge. 

§48. A Lodge may pronounce sentence of indefinite 
suspension or of expulsion, which shall be final, unless 
appealed from within six months of the knowledge of the 
sentence, and reversed or modified on such appeal by the 
Grand Lodge. But the Grand Lodge may, on application 
after one year from the sentence, restore any one suspended 
or expelled by a Lodge or the Grand Lodge in its discretion. 

§ 49. Arrears for one year's dues shall subject a member 
to be stricken from the roll of his Lodge, and if stricken 



CONSTITUTIONS. 27 

from the roll, such fact shall be stated in the annual return, 
and the Lodge thereafter shall not be liable to the Grand 
Lodge for such dues, and the member shall, thereupon, 
remain as if non-affiliated, but may be restored by a vote 
of two-thirds of the members present at any stated meeting 
of the Lodge, on payment of his dues, and giving to the 
Lodge, in writing, at least two weeks' notice of his wish to 
be restored; provided said application be made within one 
year from the time said member was stricken from the roll ; 
but no act of censure, suspension or expulsion shall be 
pronounced thereon for non-payment of dues only. 

§ 50. Any poor brother, unable to pay the adjoining fee, 
may be received without such fee by any Lodge as an 
honorary member thereof by the unanimous vote of the 
brethren present, after one month's previous notice; and 
the Lodge may excuse such brother from the payment of 
any dues, and shall not be liable to the Grand Lodge for 
such fees or dues. 

§ 51. It being the duty of every Mason to belong to some 
Lodge, and contribute to it& funds; therefore, any Mason 
who does not contribute to the funds or belong to some 
Lodge shall not be entitled to visit more than twice while 
he so continues, or to join in processions, or receive assist- 
ance or relief, or Masonic burial; and all unworthy or 
suspended or expelled Masons are strictly forbidden these 
privileges. 

§ 53. Every Lodge shall meet at least once in each year, 
and the neglect of a Lodge to hold any meeting for one 
year, or to make returns and pay dues for two years suc- 
cessively, shall forfeit its warrant. 



28 GRAND LODGE. 

TITLE X. 

OF TKIAL AND ITS INCIDENTS. 

§ 54. Where a controversy shall arise between Lodges; or 
between a Lodge and its Master; or between a Lodge and a 
member or members of another Lodge; or members of dif- 
ferent Lodges; and charges be preferred thereupon, it shall 
be the duty of the Grand Lodge, when in session, by 
resolution, or of the acting Grand Master during the recess, 
by his warrant, to appoint not more than seven, nor less 
than three, disinterested commissioners, to hear and deter- 
mine the same. Commissioners may in like manner be 
appointed, at the discretion of the Grand Master or Grand 
Lodge, in case of a difference between the Grand Lodge 
and one of its subordinates. 

§ 55. The Commissioners shall have attained the rank of 
Master or Warden, and shall be selected from at least three 
Lodges, not interested in the matter, most convenient for 
the parties and their witnesses. 

§ 56. f After serviee of the charges, the Commissioners 
shall appoint a time and place for the trial, convenient to 
the parties, and summon the parties and their witnesses; 
and any Master of a Lodge may issue a like summons for 
witnesses at the request ot either party. 

§ 57. When a trial is concluded, the Commissioners shall, 
as soon as possible, make their report of the facts found by 
them, and their judgment upon the matter, and give notice 
thereof to each of the parties, and a majority of the Com- 
missioners must concur in the judgment; a duplicate copy 
of which report shall be filed with the Grand. Secretary. 

§ 58. The decision of the Commissioners shall be final, 
unless an appeal be taken therefrom to the Grand Lodge 
within six months; in which case it shall be the duty of the 
Commissioners, upon receiving notice of such appeal, to 



CONSTITUTIONS. 29 

transmit their report to the Grand Secretary, unless they 
have already done so. The appellant shall also, within 
thirty days after notice of the decision, give notice of appeal 
to the opposing party. 

§ 59, The appeal shall be heard in Grand Lodge, or 
before a Committee thereof, during its session, upon the 
appeal and report of the Commissioners, and any document 
accompanying the same; and the decision of the Grand 
Lodge upon the appeal shall be conclusive upon the 
parties. 

§ 60. When charges are preferred in a Lodge against a 
member or non-affiliated Mason, Commissioners shall be 
appointed in like manner from among its members, by the 
Master in the chair, and the trial be conducted in all 
respects like the preceding, so far as the same is applicable, 
subject to a like appeal. 

§ 61. The expenses which may oe incurred by Commis- 
sioners appointed under the provisions of this title shall be 
borne by one or both of the parties as shall be decided by 
the Commissioners; and the amount of such expenses, and 
their decision as to who shall be chargeable with the same, 
shall be set forth in their report, and payment may be 
enforced in the same manner as Lodge or Grand Lodge 
dues. 

§ 62. Charges against the Master of a Lodge, for official 
misconduct while holding the office of Master, shall be 
presented to the Grand Lodge only during his term, or 
within one year thereafter. 



30 



GRAND LODGE. 



TITLE XI. 

OF CHAEITY. 

§ 63. Every brother in good standing, and the wives, 
widows, and minor children of such, have a claim to 
charitable relief from the funds of the Grand Lodge or any 
of its subordinates, upon presenting satisfactory evidence 
of their Masonic character or relations, and that they are in 
necessitous circumstances. 

§ 64. When such claim shall be made upon the funds of 
the Grand Lodge, when in session, it shall be referred to 
the Grand Stewards and Grand Treasurer, who shall report 
thereon to the Grand Lodge at the same session. 

§ 65. When such claim shall be made in the recess, it shall 
be presented to the Grand Master, his Deputy, the Grand 
Wardens, or the Grand Secretary, who shall select three 
brethren, Past Masters, Masters or Wardens of Lodges, who 
shall be a committee to examine and report thereon; and 
the Grand Treasurer shall pay any draft upon him for such 
relief made by them, and countersigned by the Grand 
Officer appointing them. 

§ 66. When a claim for charitable relief shall be presented 
to a subordinate Lodge, or its Master, Wardens or Secre- 
tary, requiring immediate action, the Master and Wardens 
shall be a Committee to examine the same and report 
thereon, and shall be authorized to draw upon the funds of 
the Lodge, to an amount not exceeding five dollars, for 
present relief. 



CONSTITUTIONS. 31 



l*ri II. 

DUTIES. 
TITLE I. 

OF THE DUTIES OF OFFICERS. 

§ 67. It shall be the duty of the Grand Master, 

1. To preside in the Grand Lodge at its Communica- 
tions; and, 

2. To discharge all the executive functions of the Grand 
Lodge in the interval between them, except as pro- 
vided in section 41. 

§ 68. It shall be the duty of the Grand Wardens, 

1. To assist in the affairs of the Grand Lodge; and, 

2. To diligently preserve the Ancient Landmarks 
throughout the jurisdiction. 

§ 69. It shall be the duty of the Grand Secretary: 

1. To record the transactions of the Grand Lodge; 

2. To register all initiates and members of Lodges 
under this jurisdiction, returned to him for that 
purpose, with the particulars set forth in such 
returns ; 

3. To receive, duly file, and safely keep all papers and 
documents of the Grand Lodge; 

4. To sign and certify all instruments from the Grand 
Lodge ; 

5. To receive and keep a proper account of all moneys 
of the Grand Lodge, and pay over the same, without 
delay, to the Grand Treasurer; 



32 GRAND LODGE. 

6. To report annually to the Grand Lodge the amount 
pf moneys received by him, by items, and the 
specific sources from which it was received; also the 
Lodges that have neglected to render proper returns 
of their elections, members, and dues; and such 
general information as to the state of the Lodges as 
may be proper for the information or action of the 
Grand Lodge; 

7. To conduct the correspondence of the Grand Lodge, 
under the direction of the Grand Master, and in a 
Masonic manner; 

8. To attend, with all necessary writings under his 
control, on all meetings of the Grand Lodge, on the 
requisition of the acting Grand Master; and also, to 
attend upon the Grand Master or Deputy Grand 
Master, on Masonic business, when required; 

9. To keep his office open, for the transaction of Ma- 
sonic business, at least three hours each day, except 
Sunday; of which public notice shall be given; and, 

10. To transmit to the several Grand Lodges in corre- 
spondence with this Grand Lodge a certificate of the 
election of Grand Officers, immediately thereafter, 
containing their signatures respectively, and authen- 
ticated under his hand and the seal of the Grand 
Lodge, with a request for a similar document frorn 
each of said Grand Lodges. 
§ 70. It shall be the duty of the Grand Treasurer: 

1. To take charge of a]l the funds, property, securities, 
and vouchers of the Grand Lodge; 

2. To pay all orders duly drawn, under general regu- 
lations or special directions of the Grand Lodge. 

3. To attend on the Grand Lodge or its presiding officer, 
when required, with the books and all necessary 



CONSTITUTIONS. 33 

documents relating to his office ; and when required, 
the meeting of any committee whose duty it may be 
to act in relation to the fiscal concerns of the Grand 
Lodge ; 
. 4. To report annually to the Grand Lodge the amount 
of his receipts and expenditures, by items, and from 
whom received, and to whom paid; and the amount 
of securities in his hands for funds invested by the 
Trustees; 

5. To execute and file with the Grand Secretary an 
official bond, with sureties, to be approved by the 
Grand Master or Deputy Grand Master, conditioned 
that he will pay or deliver on demand to the Grand 
Lodge, or to his successor in office, all funds and 
property of the Grand Lodge that shall come to his 
hands as Grand Treasurer; and, 

6. To pay and deliver, at the expiration of his term, to 
his successor in office, or such person as shall be 
designated by the Grand Lodge, all moneys, 
securities, evidences of debt, books, writings, and 
property of the Grand Lodge under his control, with 
all proper assignments when necessary. 

§ 71. It shall be the duty of the Grand Chaplains to 
attend the Grand Lodge, and to perform the religious 
services. 

§ 72. It shall be the duty of the Grand Marshal: 

1. To proclaim the Grand Officers at their installation; 

2. To introduce the representatives of foreign Grand 
Lodges and visiting brethren of distinction ; and, 

3. To conduct processions of the Grand Lodge. 

§ 73. It shall be the duty of the Grand Standard Bearer to 
carry the Grand Banner of the Order in processions 
and public ceremonies. 

3 



34 GRAND LODGE. 

§ 74, It shall be the duty of the Grand Sword Bearer: 

1. To carry the sword in procession; and, 

2. To perform such other duties as by ancient usage 
pertains to his office. 

§ 75. It shall be the duty of the Grand Stewards : 

1. To have the immediate superintendence in the pro- 
visions to be made for festivals; and, 
2/ To perform the duties prescribed in section 64 of 
this Constitution. 
§ 76. It shall be the duty of the Grand Deacons to assist 
within the body of the Grand Lodge,, in such duties 
as by usage appertain to their office. 
§ 77. It shall be the duty of the Grand Pursuivant: 

1. To communicate with the Grand Tiler, and announce 
all applicants for admission, by their names, Masonic 
address, and connection; and, 

2. To take charge of the jewels and regalia, under the 
direction of the Grand Officers; and 

3. To attend all meetings of the Grand Lodge and at 
other times upon the requisition of the Grand Master 
or presiding officer. 

§ 78. It shall be the duty of the Grand Tiler: 

1. To guard the door of the Grand Lodge, on the out- 
side; to report all persons claiming admission, and 
to see that none enter but such as may be duly 
authorized and properly clothed; 

2. To carry the summonses, and perform all the cus- 
tomary services pertaining to his office; and 

3. To attend all meetings of the Grand Lodge, and at 
other times upon the requisition of the Grand Master 
or presiding officer. 

§ 79. The Grand Tiler must be a Master Mason, but 
shall have no vote during his continuance in office. 



CONSTITUTIONS. 35 

§ 80. It shall be the duty of the several officers of the 
Grand Lodge, in addition to the duties herein specifically 
mentioned, to perform such other duties appertaining to 
their offices, as shall, from time to time, be directed by the 
Grand Lodge. 

§ 81. The Grand Secretary, Grand Treasurer, Grand 
Pursuivant, and Grand Tiler, shall each receive such stated 
compensation for their services as the Grand Lodge shall 
direct, which shall not be altered at any time so as to affect 
the incumbent in office. • 

§ 82. It shall be the duty of the Secretary of a Lodge: 

1. To record the proceedings of the Lodge, under the 
direction of the presiding officer, which shall be 
read and corrected (if necessary), and approved by 
the Lodge before it is closed, and such proceedings 
shall be submitted to the Grand* Lodge, whenever 
required; 

2. To receive all moneys paid into the Lodge, and pay 
the same to the Treasurer; 

3. To keep a register of" the members of the Lodge, 
with a permanent number prefixed to each name, 
corresponding with the return for registry required 
by the Grand Lodge; 

4. To register alphabetically, in a suitable book, all 
expulsions, suspensions, rejections, and restorations 
communicated by the Grand Lodge; 

5. To transmit immediately after every election, a 
certificate thereof to the Grand Secretary, in the 
form hereafter mentioned; 

6. To make a full and correct return annually to the 
Grand Lodge of all who were members of this 
Grand Lodge, on the first day of May in each year, 
which return shall be transmitted tp the Grand 



36 GRAND LODGE. 

, Secretary on or before the 15th clay of May in 
each year ; 

7. To report immediately after the expulsion or sus- 
pension of a member by the Lodge the same to 
the Grand Secretary, with the cause of such expul- 
sion or suspension; 

8. To certify and affix the seal of the Lodge to all 
returns and certificate of election rendered to the 
Grand Lodge; and, 

9. To attest the official signature of the Master to all 
other Masonic documents, when necessary. 

§ 83. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer of a Lodge : 

1. To receive all moneys paid into the Lodge from the 
hands of the Secretary; 

2. To keep a just and regular account thereof; and, 

3. To pay them out by direction of the Master and 
consent of the brethren. 

§ 84. The Tiler shall be subject in all things relating to 
his official duties to the direction of the Master or presiding 
officer. 

TITLE II. 

OF DUTIES OP LODGES AND MEMBERS. 

§ 85. The duties of members are to conform to the Ancient 
Landmarks and Constitutions, General Regulations, and 
Charges of the Fraternity, relative to them in their private 
capacity. 

§ 86. Every Lodge shall have a seal, and shall keep the 
following books, and such other books as the Lodge itself 
shall direct, viz: 

A book of by-laws, with the signatures of the members. 

A record book of the proceedings of the Lodge. 

A register of the names of members, date of initiation, 
occupation, etc. 



CONSTITUTIONS. 37 

An alphabetical list of expulsions, suspensions, and 
rejections. 

Such books as may be necessary to present clearly the 
receipts and accounts of the Secretary and Treasurer. 

It shall, also, be the duty of the Lodge, to keep, with the 
Lodge books, a book of Constitutions and Kegulations of the 
Grand Lodge, to which shall be added, from time to time, 
all new regulations and alterations promulgated by the 
Grand Lodge. It shall, also, be the duty of the Lodge to 
preserve in its archives a copy of the proceedings of the 
Grand Lodge, as published from year to year. 

§ 87. No Lodge shall confer the degrees for a less sum 
than the price fixed by the General Regulations ; nor upon 
credit, nor receive a promissory note therefor in lieu of 
money; nor distribute its funds among its members; nor 
introduce intoxicating liquors within its lodge-room, or any 
room adjoining; nor countenance or permit private or 
clandestine lecturing; nor meet for Masonic labors on the 
Sabbath, or first day of the week. 

§ 88. When a duty is imposed, its neglect or violation, 
without excuse, shall be considered an offense against 
Masonic law. 



38 GKAND LODGE. 



\KXt III. 



GENERAL REGULATIONS. 
TITLE I. 

OF THE REGULATIONS OP THE GRAND LODGE OF NEW YORK. 

§ 89. The style of this Grand Lodge shall be "The Mort 
Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Ancient and Honorable 
Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of 
New York." 

§ 90. This Grand Lodge shall be composed of the officers 
and members mentioned in sections 2, 29, and 30 of this 
Constitution, all Past Grand Officers of this Grand Lodge, 
and all Past Masters, who were such on the 31st day of 
December, 1849, and who are members of a Subordinate 
Lodge under this jurisdiction. A proxy must be a Present 
or Past Master; and the number of Lodges which he may 
represent shall not exceed three. 

§ 91. Every officer and member of the Grand Lodge must 
be a member of a Subordinate Lodge within the jurisdiction. 

§ 92. The representatives of ten lodges, convened on due 
notice, shall be indispensably necessary to open or transact 
business in the Grand Lodge, except on occasions of cere- 
mony, when the Grand Master, or his representative, with 
a sufficient number of brethren, being present, the Grand 
Lodge may be opened for the transaction of the business 
for which it is called. 

§ 93. The Grand Lodge shall be held annually in the city 
of New York, on the first Tuesday of June, at which meet- 



CONSTITUTIONS. 39 

ing the Grand Officers shall be elected and installed; and 
all matters affecting the Craft generally, in this jurisdiction, 
shall be considered and acted upon. The Grand Master, 
or the Deputy Grand Master, shall be chosen from the said 
city, or within ten miles of the City Hall in said city. 
When the Grand Master is chosen from the city, the Dep- 
uty Grand Master shall be chosen from the country; and 
when the Grand Master is chosen from the country, the 
Deputy Grand Master shall be chosen from the city. The 
Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary shall be chosen from 
the city of New York, or within ten miles of the City Hall 
of the city of New York. The Senior and Junior Grand 
Wardens shall be chosen from some other part of the State 
than the said city. Special communications may be held 
at any other time, on the requisition of the Grand Master, 
but no business of legislation shall be transacted, or change 
of the Constitutions, Regulations, or Rules of Government 
of the Grand Lodge or of the Craft shall be made, except 
at the Annual June Communication. Quarterly Communi- 
cations are abolished. 

§ 94. Each Lodge shall be entitled to three votes, if 
represented by the Master and Wardens, or either of them, 
or by proxy, for any number of members up to fifty, and 
an additional vote for each additional fifty members. 

§ 95. Each member of the Grand Lodge shall appear 
therein with his proper jewel and clothing. 

§ 96. None but members of the Grand Lodge (past or 
present Officers of the other Grand Lodges excepted) shall 
be present at the opening of the same, nor during an 
election. 

§ 97. No brother shall be admitted into the Grand Lodge, 
but the members thereof, except by permission of the Grand 
Lodge. 



40 GRAND LODGE. 

§ 98. No brother, resident in the vicinity of a Lodge, 
and not a member of some Lodge, shall be permitted to 
visit the Grand Lodge, except by special invitation. 

§ 99. The clothing, jewels, and insignia of the Grand 
Officers, shall be such as have been adopted by usage and 
custom in this Grand Lodge, the jewels of the officers of 
Lodges to be of silver; the color of their collars and aprons 
to be of white, trimmed with blue, except as otherwise 
ordered or allowed by this Grand Lodge. 

TITLE II. 

OF BEVENTJE AND FUN*DS. 

§ 100. The revenue of this Grand Lodge shall be derived 
from the following sources: 

1. For every Charter or Warrant $50 00 

2. For every Dispensation to form a new Lodge 40 00 

3. And if a Charter or Warrant shall be after- 

ward granted, the additional sum of 10 00 

4. For every Dispensation to confer the three 

degrees at one meeting (except in case of 
sea-faring men about to sail on distant 
voyages) 10 00 

5. And every other Dispensation shall be with- 

out fees, except for a Dispensation to 
confer the degrees in a less time than 

provided by the Constitution 5 00 

6. For every Grand Lodge Diploma 2 00 

7. For every Grand Lodge traveling certificate. 50 

8. For every person initiated into a Lodge ... 3 50 

$3 whereof shall be appropriated to the 
increase of the Hall and Asylum Fund. 

9. For every E. A. or F. C. from without the 

jurisdiction 1 00 



CONSTITUTIONS. 41 

10. Every Lodge shall pay for each of its mem- 

bers annually 50 

11. For the adjoining fee of every Master Mason. 50 

12. For registry fee of every adjoining member 

or Entered Apprentice made 25 

§ 101. Every Lodge shall be accountable for the dues of 
each of its members embraced in its return, except such as 
are exempted by section 50 ; and it shall be lawful for a 
Lodge to make by-laws, exempting its Secretary, Chaplain, 
and Tiler, from the payment of dues, and in such case the 
Lodge shall be exempt from liability to the Grand Lodge 
for their annual dues. 

§ 102. The management of the permanent funds is vested 
in a board of Trustees, denominated the Trustees of the 
Permanent Fund, consisting of the Grand Master, Deputy 
Grand Maater, Grand Wardens, and Grand Secretary, and 
all the invested funds of the Grand Lodge shall be placed 
under the management and stand in the names of the said 
Trustees, whose duty it shall be to take the best measures 
for the security and increase of said funds, and to invest, 
from time to time, as a majority may decide upon, all 
money which shall come into the hands of the Grand 
Treasurer, after paying salaries, representatives, and rent; 
and after leaving in his hands, for charitable and contingent 
purposes, such sum as the Grand Lodge may, from time to 
time, direct. The said Trustees shall deposit in the hands 
of the Grand Treasurer the security and vouchers of the 
said invested funds, and shall not have the power to 
transfer, sell, dispose of, or appropriate any part of the 
invested fund without a vote of the Grand Lodge at the 
annual communication. 

§ 103. The accounts of the Grand Secretary and Grand 
Treasurer shall be examined, and the items compared with 



42 GKAND LODGE. 

the vouchers quarterly, by a discreet committee of three 
members, appointed in the manner provided for in section 
65 of this Constitution. 

TITLE III. 

OF SALARIES AND THE PAY OF REPRESENTATIVES. 

§ 104. In the computation of time relative to salaries of 
Grand Officers, the year shall be considered as commencing 
and terminating on the first day of the Annual Communi- 
cation of the Grand Lodge, and such salaries be paid 
quarterly according. 

§ 105. One representative from each Lodge shall be 
entitled to receive his traveling expenses at the rates estab- 
lished by the proprietors of public conveyance, which he 
shall take in coming directly from his Lodge to the place 
of meeting, and returning thereto, as charged by said pro- 
prietors at the time, and also three dollars for each day's 
attendance, and while traveling, not exceeding two days in 
going and returning. And though he represent more than 
one Lodge, he shall receive pay only for one Lodge; nor 
shall he receive more than the aggregate dues of the Lodges 
he shall represent. 

§ 106. Grand Officers shall be entitled to the like com- 
pensation from the funds of the Grand Lodge. 

§ 107. Absence of a Grand Officer or Representative 
before the close of the communication, or from any cause 
except sickness of, or calamity to, himself or his family, 
shall forfeit all claim to payment or compensation under the 
two next preceding sections. 



CONSTITUTIONS. 43 

TITLE IV. 

OF WORK AND LECTURES. 

§ 108. There shall be annually elected by ballot a Master 
Mason, of approved Masonic skill and learning, and a 
member in good standing of some subordinate Lodge in this 
jurisdiction, who shall be styled " Grand Lecturer," and 
whose duty it shall be to attend the Annual Communication 
of the Grand Lodge, and shall be a member thereof; and 
shall, during the session, exhibit to the members the 
standard of work which is approved and determined by the 
Grand Lodge, for the practice of the Lodges under its 
jurisdiction. It shall, also, be his duty to impart said lec- 
tures to the Lodges or brethren in this State, whenever he 
shall be invited so to do, and may receive such compensation 
therefor as may be fixed by the Grand Lodge before the 
election, and shall not be changed during his continuance 
in office. He shall make an annual report of the state of 
proficiency of the Lodges he may visit. 

§ 109. The Grand Lecturer, as soon as his work and lec- 
tures shall be approved by the Grand Lodge, shall appoint 
one competent assistant in each of the judicial districts of 
the State, of like qualifications and character, who shall 
adopt and practice his standard of work, of lectures, and 
no others; and who shall have the like powers with himself 
within their respective districts, and not out of it, unless 
specially directed by him in case of a vacancy in another 
district, and be subject to like duties, and receive such 
compensation as shall be determined by the Grand Lodge. 

§ 110. Every Lodge shall adopt and practice the standard 
of work and Lectures imparted by the Grand Lecturer or 
Assistant Grand Lecturers, and no other; and any Lodge 
violating this provision, without express authority from this 
Grand Lodge, shall be subject to forfeiture of their warrant. 



44 GRAND LODGE. 

§ 111. Any Freemason, not duly authorized, who shall 
impart such work and lectures, shall be subject to expulsion; 
but this shall not apply to the Master or Wardens of a 
Lodge, or any Present or Past Master, or competent brother 
invited by them to officiate in any Lodge. 

TITLE V. 

OF MASONIC DISTRICTS. 

§ 112. The subordinate Lodges under this jurisdiction, 
located out of the city of New York, and beyond a circle of 
ten miles from the City Hall in said city, shall be appor- 
tioned into and located within ten Masonic districts of 
contiguous territory, to be divided by the first five elective 
Grand Officers, who may also alter and again divide and 
re-arrange the same at any Annual June Communication of 
the Grand Lodge. 

§ 113. The Grand Lodge may, at any Annual June Com- 
nxunication, subdivide the said Masonic districts, so 
apportioned by the Grand Officers. 

TITLE VI. 

OF DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND MASTERS. 

§ 114. At each Annual June Communication it shall be 
the duty of the Grand Master to appoint, for each Masonic 
district, a District Deputy Grand Master (whose style shall 
be Right Worshipful), who shall hold his office at the 
pleasure of the Grand Master, and who shall receive a 
warrant of his appointment, duly signed and attested, and 
authenticated under the seal of the Grand Lodge. 

§ 115. Each Lodge in any Masonic district may, annually, 
and on or before the first Monday in May, in each year, 
recommend in writing, duly authenticated, to the Grand 



CONSTITUTIONS. 45 

Master, a suitably qualified person to be appointed as 
District Deputy Grand Master for such district. 

§ 116. Every person appointed as a District Deputy Grand 
Master shall be a Master or Past Master, and a member in 
good standing of some Lodge in the district for which he is 
appointed, and a resident of such district, and shall be well 
skilled in the standard work of the first three degrees in 
Masonry, and in the customs and usages of the Craft. 

§ llL7. It shall be the duty of the Grand Secretary, im- 
mediately after the appointment of any District Deputy 
Grand Master, to notify each of the Lodges in that district 
of the appointment, and shall also furnish each person so 
appointed with a list of the Lodges in his district. 

§ 118. The Grand Master shall have power to fill vacan- 
cies in the office of District Deputy Grand Master, that may 
from any cause occur in any district. 

§ 119. Every District Deputy Grand Master, during the 
term of his appointment, and no longer, shall be, by virtue 
of his office, a member of the Grand Lodge, and have one 
vote therein, and shall receive the same compensation for 
attendance as representatives of Lodges, from the funds of 
the Grand Lodge. 

§ 120. Each District Deputy Grand Master shall have 
power, and it shall be his duty: 

1. To appoint Commissioners to hear and determine 
any controversy arising in his district, in any of 
the cases mentioned in section 54 of the Constitu- 
tion, and in the manner therein provided, except 
where the Grand Lodge is a party, and shall have 
concurrent jurisdiction with the Grand Master for 
that purpose. 

2. To hear and determine appeals from the decision 
of Commissioners appointed pursuant to section 



46 GRAND LODGE. 

54 and section 60 of the Constitution, subject to 
the following provisions and restrictions: That 
the power of appeal herein given is to be exercised 
either by the Grand Master, or Deputy Grand 
Master, or District Deputy Grand Master of his 
district, whichever the appellant may choose to 
appeal to, but not by them jointly, and each of 
them is constituted an agent of the Grand Lodge, 
for the purpose of hearing and determining such 
appeals in its behalf; that the power of appeal in 
cases arising under said section 60 is only to be 
exercised after the Commissioners have reported, 
in writing, their proceedings and determination to 
the Lodge in which the charges against the ac- 
cused were made, and after the same have been 
substantially approved or adopted by such Lodge, 
that the decision of either of said officers to whom 
such appeal is made (and to whom the Commis- 
sioners shall transmit the proceedings and testi- 
mony in the matter) is to be final, unless a further 
appeal be taken therefrom to the Grand Lodge, at 
its Annual Communication, in the manner and 
within the time prescribed in section 58 of the 
Constitution; that either of said officers, imme- 
diately after making a decision on an appeal, 
transmit a report thereof in writing, and his 
reasons for such decision, to the Grand Secretary, 
together with the proceedings and testimony re- 
ceived from the Commissioners, that the same may 
be laid before the Grand Lodge if required; that 
either of said officers may order a new trial before 
the same or other Commissioners duly appointed, 
or direct new or further testimony to be taken 



CONSTITUTIONS. 47 

before the Commissioners who tried the matter, 
and that in no case of appeal shall any new or 
further testimony be taken or admitted, unless 
upon such new trial when ordered, or when suck 
new or further testimony is directed to be taken 
by one of said officers, or by the Grand Lodge,, 
upon satisfactory cause shown therefor. 
, To visit every Lodge in his district, at a stated 
meeting thereof, at least once during his term, if 
practicable, of which visit he shall give suck 
Lodge due notice. 

To preside in each Lodge visited after it is opened 
and he is introduced; to examine its books and 
records, and see if they are properly kept; to 
inform himself of the number of members, and 
the punctuality and regularity of their attendance; 
to ascertain the state and condition of the Lodge 
in all respects; to point out any errors he may 
ascertain in their .conduct and mode of working;, 
and (when duly authorized) instruct them in the 
work and lectures; to instruct them in every 
particular wherein he shall find they may require 
or may desire information, and particularly to 
recommend attention to the moral and benevolent 
principles of Masonry, and caution in the admis- 
sion of candidates; to determine and order in 
what cases a member stricken from the rolls, or 
suspended for non-payment of dues only, shall be 
restored to the rolls, or reinstated without a ballot,, 
when such dues have been paid; and if he dis- 
cover in any Lodge, or elsewhere in his district,, 
any Masonic error or evil, to endeavor to imme- 
diately arrest the same by Masonic means, and*, 



48 GRAND LODGE. 

if lie judge it expedient, may specially report the 
same to the Grand Master or Grand' Secretary. 

5. To receive and secure the funds and property of 
any dormant or extinct Lodge in his district, and, 
except as otherwise directed by proper authority, 
to forward to the Grand Secretary all funds, char- 
ters, jewels, seals, books, papers, maps, or pictures 
of such Lodge, and to sell its remaining property 
to the best advantage, and account for the pro- 
ceeds thereof to the Grand Lodge. 

6. To report in writing, annually, on or before the 
first Monday in May, the true state and condition 
of each Lodge in his district, so far as is proper 
to be done, and transmit the same to the Grand 
Secretary, to be laid before the Grand Lodge; and, 

7. To perform such other services and executive 
duties as he may be deputed or instructed to do 
by the Grand Master or Deputy Grand Master. 

§ 121. It is required of the subordinate lodges in each 
district, to pay the necessary expenses of their District 
Deputy Grand Master, incurred while in the discharge of 
his official duties in such district. 

TITLE VII. 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. 

§ 122. Officers of Lodges in this jurisdiction shall be 
elected at the stated meeting of such Lodge next preceding 
the festival of St. John the Evangelist. 

§ 123. Past Masters qualified to represent a Lodge in the 
Grand Lodge, are such as shall have been duly elected and 
installed, and shall have served one year in that office, and 
who are contributing members of some Lodge subordinate 
10 this jurisdiction. 



CONSTITUTIONS. 49 

§ 124. No Entered Apprentice or Fellow-Craft, initiated 
or passed in any Lodge within the United States, shall be 
passed or raised in any Lodge under the jurisdiction of this 
Grand Lodge, other than that in which he was initiated, 
unless he shall produce a recommendation from the Lodge 
in which he was intiated or passed, provided said Lodge 
continue in existence. \ 

§ 125. All Freemasons who are acknowledged as such by 
any of the lodges in good standing, under the jurisdiction 
of Grand Lodges in correspondence with this Grand Lodge 
may be admitted as visiting brethren, under the same 
restrictions as those of our own country. 

§ 126. No Lodge shall make a Mason (except one made 
for the purpose of being a Tiler) for a less sum than twenty 
dollars. 

§ 127. There shall be no procession of Masons in the 
city of New York, without a dispensation from the Grand 
Lodge, the Grand Master, or his Deputy; nor in any 
other part of the State, without such permission, or the 
permission of a regularly constituted Lodge. 

§ 128. The forms for registry and returns of the election 
of officers and appointment of proxies, shall be prepared 
in compliance with these General [Regulations by the Grand 
Secretary, and duplicate copies thereof furnished by him 
to each Lodge annually. 

§ 129. No dispensation will be granted to establish a 
Lodge out of an incorporated city in this jurisdiction, in 
the same town or village in which a Lodge is already 
established; nor shall a warrant be issued to establish such 
Lodge without the vote of two-thirds of the members 
present in Grand Lodge ; nor in such city unless it contains 
at least ten thousand inhabitants. 



50 GRAND LODGE. 



fart IV. 

OF LOCAL BEGULATIONS. 

§ 130. It is the duty of the Grand Master to visit, an- 
nually, in person, or by deputy, every Lodge in the cities 
of New York and Brooklyn. 

§ 131. It is the duty of every Lodge held in the cities of 
New York and Brooklyn to make its returns to the Grand 
Lodge, half yearly, and of the Secretary of every such 
Lodge to prepare such return. 

§ 132. No dispensation authorizing a funeral procession 
in the city of New York, except for a sojourner, shall be 
issued, unless requested by the Master and Wardens of the 
Lodge to which the deceased member belonged. 

§ 133. Any Lodge in the city of New York neglecting to 
make returns and pay its dues, on or before the first day 
of the Annual June Communication shall be thereby dis- 
qualified from voting in the Grand Lodge. 

§ 134. The Lodges and Masons in the city of Brooklyn, 
within ten miles of New York City Hall, shall be subject 
to the same regulations, and entitled to the same privileges, 
as those in the city of New York. 

§ 135. The several subordinate lodges within a circle of 
ten miles of the City Hall of New York shall be apportioned 
into three districts, by the first five elective Grand officers, 
who may also alter and again apportion, re-arrange and 
increase the number of districts, at any succeeding Annual 
Communication. A District Deputy Grand Master, for each 
of said districts shall be appointed by the Grand Master, 
at each Annual Communication, to whom all the provisions 
of the Constitution relative to District Deputy Grand 



CONSTITUTIONS. 51 

Masters shall be applicable, except that of residence and 
membership in a Lodge in the particular district to which 
they may be appointed, provided that the person so ap- 
pointed reside, and be a member in good standing in some 
Lodge, within ten miles of said City Hall. 



pit v. 

OF FUTUKE AMENDMENTS AND NEW BEGULATIONS. 

§ 136. No amendment to this Constitution shall be made, 
or have any effect, until it shall have been proposed in 
Grand Lodge, at its Annual Communication in June, and 
been adopted by the Grand Lodge at the same Communi- 
cation, and then again adopted in like manner by the 
Grand Lodge at the next succeeding Annual June Commu- 
nication. But such an amendment may also be made and 
have effect if, in addition to the adoption thereof, at one 
such Annual Communication, it shall, during the next year 
succeeding, and before the next Annual June Communi- 
cation thereafter, be adopted by the affirmative vote of a 
majority of the Lodges within this jurisdiction. If any 
such amendment be adopted, it shall be appended to the 
published proceedings at the end, under the caption, 
"Proposed Amendments to the Constitution," and sent 
with the printed proceedings to all the Lodges in the 
jurisdiction. 

§ 137. No General Kegulation shall be adopted incon- 
sistent with this Constitution, and all former written 
Constitutions are hereby repealed, and all General Eegu- 
lations heretofore made and adopted, inconsistent with 
this Constitution, are hereby also repealed. 



NEW YORK 

MASONIC CODE. 



MASONIC CODE. 



Relative to Profanity. 

Resolved, That the use of profane language is declared by 
this Grand Lodge to be grossly unmasonic, and highly 
injurious to the character of Freemasonry; and any Mason 
using such language is liable to the disciplinary laws of the 
Craft.— Pages 173 and 175—1854. 

Profanity is an offense against Masonic law, for which a 
memoer may be reprimanded, suspended, or expelled, in 
the discretion of the Lodge, and the Lodge must act upon 
the report of the Commissioners, and a majority vote will 
expel the member found guilty, after the offender has been 
admonished. ( The Grand Lodge approved this decision, with 
this addition, as follows): "After the offender has been 
admonished as required by subdivision 25, section 8, of the 
Constitutions."— Pages 34 and 207—1862. 

Intemperance. 

Resolved, That it is the duty of all subordinate Lodges 
under this jurisdiction to restrain intemperance among 
their members, if there be any guilty of this practice, and 
to correct the evils thereof to the extent of their authority. 
—Pages 173 and 175—1854. 

Relative to Residence. 

Resolved, That in the opinion of this Grand Lodge, the 
constitutional provisions will be best sustained by Lodges 
requiring a candidate for initiation to be an actual resident 



56 NEW YORK 

in the immediate vicinity of the Lodge to which he applies, 
for at least four months before his application, ' ' the sanie 
applying only to citizens of this State." — Page 170 — 1852. 

Resolved, That no Lodge under the jurisdiction of this 
Grand Lodge shall initiate, pass, or raise any candidate 
from another jurisdiction until he has been a resident 
within this State for twelve months, without the recom- 
mendation of the Lodge or Grand Lodge within whoso 
jurisdiction he last previously resided: Provided, that this 
rule shall not be construed to apply to applications from 
seafaring or military men. — Pages 174 and 175 — 1854. 

No person can acquire a residence in the place where his 
military duties are being performed, if performed within 
this State, until the expiration of four months from the 
time of his removal from the Lodge jurisdiction in which 
he previously resided; and it is the duty of an Investigating 
Committee to look beyond the petition to ascertain where 
the residence of the candidate really is, and has been, 
during the aforesaid period. — Pages 30 and 206 — 1862. 

Visitors' Book. 

Resolved, That it be recommended to every subordinate 
Lodge under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge to keep 
a Visitors' Book, in which they shall require every visitor 
to sign his name, the Lodge and locality whence he hails, 
and the date of his visit; such particulars to be taken before 
the visitor shall enter the Lodge-room. — Pages 174 and 175 
—1854 

Jurisdiction over Candidates. 

Resolved, That it is the decision of this Grand Lodge that 
no subordinate Lodge can, in any case, make a Mason of 
any person residing within the proper bounds or jurisdic- 
tion of any other subordinate Lodge (the location of the 



MASONIC CODE. 57 

candidate and circumstances of the case being duly con- 
sidered), without a dereliction from Masonic usage, and 
proper courtesy due to their brethren, until the initiating 
Lodge shall receive, officially certified, the consent and 
approbation of the sister Lodge, and the same be entered 
upon the records. — Page 71 — 1851. 

Resolved, That this Grand Lodge ought not to exercise 
original jurisdiction to try a member of a subordinate Lodge 
which is in good standing, and which is not acting in hos- 
tility to the Order, constitution or jurisdiction of this Grand 
Lodge, for any Masonic offense other than offenses against 
this Grand Lodge, when such member is subject to trial by 
the subordinate Lodge to which he belongs. — Page 189 — 
1854. 

That where more than one Lodge is situated in the same 
city or village, their jurisdiction is concurrent in all respects 
in said city or village. — Pages 28 and 256 — 1859. 

If a candidate live out of the jurisdiction of the Lodge in 
which his petition is offerecT, the petition should be dis- 
missed as soon as this fact is ascertained, and the fee paid 
should be returned to him. No ballot is necessary. — Pages 
34 and 206—1862. 

That where a petitioner for the degrees resides within the 
jurisdiction of the Lodge to which he applies, his subse- 
quent removal to the jurisdiction of another Lodge does not 
deprive the former Lodge of jurisdiction. — Pages 25 and 
164—1864. 

That when a year has elapsed after a favorable ballot on 
the question of initiation, and after a demand for a new 
ballot had been made and laid over, and the candidate had 
not been notified to come forward for initiation, the Lodge 
has lost all jurisdiction over him, and the candidate can be 



58 NEW YORK 

proposed in a second Lodge and initiated without recourse 
to the rejecting Lodge. — 1866. 

The Grand Lodge was asked to give construction to the 
language in the constitution "within ten miles of the City 
Hall" so far as applicable to the jurisdiction of city Lodges 
over material. The Grand Lodge decided that the meaning 
is most evident from the plain reading of the constitution 
that it applies only to concurrent jurisdiction over material, 
by Lodges in the cities of New York and Brooklyn, pro- 
vided such Lodges be within the prescribed distance from 
the City Hall.— 1866. 

Relative to Jurisdiction of a Lodge. 

That the territorial jurisdiction of a Lodge extends to a 
point half way between it and the nearest Lodge in the 
same State. This decision not to apply to cities and vil- 
lages where there are more Lodges than one. — Pages 29 and 
210—1858. 

That a Mason residing in this jurisdiction, though a 
member of a Lodge in another State, is nevertheless sub- 
ject to the penal jurisdiction of the Lodge nearest the place 
of his residence. — Pages 19 and 176 — 1861. 

Conferring Degrees and Proficiency. 

Resolved, That we regard the fact of the establishment of 
Lodges to confer any degrees of Masonry (under whatever 
right they may claim) by any Masonic authority other than 
this Grand Lodge, upon any person who is not a Master 
Mason, as an invasion of the rights and privileges of this 
Grand Lodge, and, as such, it shall be sternly rebuked and 
resisted, as this Grand Lodge has, of undoubted right, 
sole, original and exclusive jurisdiction over those degrees 
in this State.— Page 237—1853. 



MASONIC CODE. 59 

Resolved, That it is incompetent for the Master of a 
Lodge to take its warrant and open, in conjunction with 
another Lodge, for the purpose of conferring degrees, with- 
out first summoning the Lodge, that each member may 
have due and timely notice. — Page 207 — 1854. 

Resolved, That no candidate shall be passed to the degree 
of Fellow-Craft, or raised to the degree of Master Mason in 
any subordinate Lodge under the jurisdiction of this Grand 
Lodge, without proof of proficiency in the preceding degree, 
which shall be ascertained by examination of a competent 
Committee, to be appointed by the W. Master, or examina- 
tion in open Lodge. — Page 153 — 1856. 

Resolved, That before a candidate in a subordinate Lodge 
advances from one degree to a higher degree, the "W. M. of 
the Lodge shall be satisfied that the candidate has made 
suitable proficiency in the preceding degree. — Page 173 — 
1857. 

Can a Master confer the *first degree on a candidate in 
any other Lodge than the one in which he was accepted ? 
(In answer to this question the Grand Lodge decided as fol- 
lows): If it is meant by this question to ask whether a 
Master can take the candidate into another Lodge and 
there confer the degree, we regard the practice as irregular 
and reprehensible, and liable to lead to errors and abuse. 
The practice of holding the communication of a Lodge in 
another building than its regular place of meeting, even 
when under the sanction of its warrant, is equally repre- 
hensible and erroneous. That a Lodge has a right to meet 
on an off night in the building in which its meetings are 
usually held, for the purpose of conferring the degrees, or 
any one of them, when another Lodge may be meeting 
there and working in the degree sought to be conferred, but 



60 NEW YORK 

in such case the Lodge shall be informed of the intention 
so to do at its last previous communication, or fully 
summoned for that purpose. — Page 233 — 18G3. 

Resolved, That a Lodge without the jurisdiction may- 
make a Mason of one duly accepted by a Lodge within the 
jurisdiction, upon lawful information, or finish the work of 
such Lodge in like manner. —Page 137 — 1864. 

Rejected Candidates. 

Resolved, That in every town or city, except New York 
and Brooklyn, where there is more than one subordinate 
Lodge, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of every such ' 
Lodge to furnish all other Lodges in the place the names of 
those who petition such Lodge for the degrees of Masonry, 
so that the other Lodges shall receive such notice at their 
next communication; and also, give notice of all rejections 
as soon as they occur, — Page 135 — 1855. 

Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the E. W. Grand 
Secretary to keep an alphabetical register of all rejections 
officially reported to him from subordinate Lodges, specify- 
ing the date, age, occupation, residence, and such other 
information as may be embodied in such reports respect- 
ively together with the name and number of Lodge from 
which received. And that it shall be his duty at all proper 
times to furnish the free inspection of the aforesaid register 
to all Master Masons in good standing. — Pages 104 and 
135—1855. 

Resolved, That the W. M. of each subordinate Lodge 
within the city of New York shall be especially required 
and directed to ascertain from the G. S. (before permitting a 
ballot for any candidate for membership) whether the name 
of such candidate shall have been reported to him among 



MASONIC CODE. 61 

t 

the rejections within the six months next preceding the 
proposition of such candidate. — Pages 104 and 135 — 1855. 

That when a candidate has been rejected he cannot, after 
six months, again apply for initiation without the consent 
of the Lodge that rejected him. — Pages 30 and 209 — 1858. 

That a "rejected candidate" must present a new petition 
upon a second application to be made a Mason, his first 
petition having been rejected; it being a petition that is 
rejected or accepted, and not a candidate. — Pages 30 and 
209—1858. 

That the Lodge does not, by receiving the petition in the 
case above mentioned, prevent the objection being made 
on the ground of want of consent of the rejecting Lodge. — 
Pages 30 and 209—1858. 

That where a candidate has been rejected on the ballot 
for his advancement, it is irregular for another Lodge to 
confer the degree upon him, even on request of the Lodge 
where he was thus rejected.— Pages 29 and 256 — 1859. 

That a rejected candidate cannot be initiated in any other 
Lodge without the consent of the Lodge that rejected him. 
—Pages 20 and 176—1861. 

That it is highly unmasonic for Lodges to send notices of 
rejection, suspension, or expulsion, with the names of the 
parties thus dealt with printed therein, or otherwise publish 
the same.— Pages 20 and 176—1861. 

That when the first ballot for a candidate appears to be 
unfavorable, the Master has the right to order a second, the 
necessary precautions having been observed, provided that 
it be done forthwith, or before any of the brethren partici- 
pating in the first ballot have left the Lodge. — Pages 20 
and 176—1861. 



62 NEW YORK 

That where a candidate has been rejected, and a new 
Lodge is afterward established having jurisdiction over his 
place of residence, he must present his petition to the new 
Lodge, but he cannot be initiated without the consent of 
the Lodge that rejected him. — Pages 25 and 194 — 1865. 

The effect of a rejection upon a new ballot before initiation 
is the same as if the rejection had occurred upon the original 
balloting, and the petition cannot be renewed until after 
the expiration of six months; but when the rejection is upon 
an application for advancement, it is only for that commu- 
nication, and the application may be renewed whenever 
and as often as the candidate may think proper. — Pages 25 
and 194—1865. 

A warranted Lodge rejected a candidate, and a year after- 
ward a Lodge under dispensation was created, and the 
candidate was found to live nigher to the Lodge U. D. than 
to the warranted Lodge; subsequently that Lodge made 
the candidate, and the Lodge U. D. applied to me to make 
an order that the initiation fee be paid over to that Lodge. 
I decided adversely to the application, on the ground that 
the warranted Lodge had full jurisdiction of the candidate 
before the Lodge U. D. was established, and that such juris- 
diction was continuous and unbroken. ( The Grand Lodge 
modified this decision as follows): That the proposition in 
the above decision, that a Lodge retains jurisdiction over 
rejected candidates who live nearer to a Lodge U. D. estab- 
lished after the rejection, should be qualified with the 
remark, that the consent of the Lodge U. D. must first be 
obtained.— 1866. 

To the question as to what is the status of a candidate re- 
jected on his application, and which seems to be made upon 
the supposition that an objection once made is an insuper- 



MASONIC CODE. 63 

able barrier to further progress without being renewed, or 
without further balloting, the Grand Lodge says that the 
candidate may ask for a new ballot at each successive meet- 
ing of the Lodge, provided such application lie over one 
regular meeting. Discretion will of course be used to pre- 
vent annoyance by repeated ballotings when it is well known 
that they will be in vain. The decision made in 1864, 
"that such objection shall be a bar to the further progress 
of the candidate until withdrawn," is not at variance with 
the principle here laid down. It only means that the 
objection must be renewed whenever application for a new 
ballot is made, and not that once having been made it 
remains in force although "the brother so objecting be 
accidentally taken away." — 1866. 

Relative to Maimed Candidates. 

Besolved, That it is a violation of a Landmark to make a 
Mason of one who has the disability of lameness, occasioned 
by a shortened and crooked limb. — Page 120 — 1855 — 1862. 

Besolved, That no dispensation or action of this Grand 
Lodge can alter or disturb the principle contained in sub- 
division 9, of section 8, of the Constitution, it being an 
Ancient Landmark, the violation of which subjects the 
offender to the penalties of Masonic law. — Page 160 — 1856. 

That although the Landmark requiring that candidates 
should be "hale and sound, not deformed or dismembered," 
and that a 'Prentice should be " a perfect youth, without 
maim or defect in his body, and capable of learning the 
mysteries of the art," had been left, in some things, to the 
discretion of Lodges by a decision of this Grand Lodge; yet 
it was the safe rule never to exercise that discretion, but to 
cast the responsibility on the Grand Lodge. ( The Grand 
Lodge modified, as follows): That as a general rule the 



64 NEW YORK 

candidate should be in a condition to perform and receive 
any and all parts of the ceremonies and duties of the 
Fraternity.— Pages 28 and 209—1858. 

If a candidate can see with but one eye, and is deformed 
or dismembered thereby, he is not eligible to the degrees of 
Masonry; but if the loss of sight in the imperfect eye does 
not extend to deformity, it is not an insuperable barrier to 
his admission into our Fraternity. — Pages 28 and 206 — 1862. 

If a candidate be in a condition to receive and impart 
any and all parts of the ceremonies and duties of the 
Fraternity, he is, as a general rule, entirely eligible to the 
degrees, yet it is the province of the Lodge to exercise 
some discretion in the matter; though if a doubt exists, the 
petition should be withdrawn (only, however, before its 
reference to a Committee), or he should be rejected. — Pages 

28 and 206—1862. 

That a Fellow-Graft, who possessed all the necessary 
physical qualifications at the time of his initiation, is not 
necessarily disqualified for the third degree by a dismem- 
berment occurring subsequently to his initiation. The 
Ancient Landmarks define the qualifications necessary ' ■ at 
the time of making," and not when applying for advance- 
ment,— Pages 26 and 164—1864. 

Relative to the Admission and Advancement of 
Candidates. 

That it is not the duty of a brother to state objections to 
a candidate before ballot, or the right of a Lodge to require 
its members to state such objections at any time. — Pages 

29 and 209—1858. 

That the six months' interval in section 23 of the Consti- 
tutions only applies to candidates for Masonry, and not to 



MASONIC CODE. 65 

applicants for affiliation in the Lodge. — Pages 29 and 209 
—1858. 

That a brother is not required to black-ball a candidate 
against whom he has, and knows, no objection, at the hail 
of another brother.— Pages 29 and 209—1858. 

That section 22, title 4, of the Constitutions, declaring 
that a Lodge has power to make but five new brethren at 
the same time, only applies to the Entered Apprentice 
degree.— Page 258—1859. 

Resolved, That Committees appointed to investigate the 
character and qualifications of brethren applying for mem- 
bership in Lodges, ought always to require full proof that 
the brother applying for membership is non-affiliated, and 
in good standing, before they make a favorable report; and 
that for neglect of duty in this particular they are liable to 
discipline.— Page 181—1860. 

That the Master of a Lodge has an undoubted right to 
refuse to initiate a candidate*, notwithstanding his accept- 
ance by the Lodge, if in his judgment such initiation would 
be improper. — Pages 20 and 176 — 1861. 

Resolved, That a candidate having been initiated in a 
Lodge, and objections being raised against his advance- 
ment, that the Master must order a ballot; and should a 
black-ball appear, the candidate must remain an Entered 
Apprentice in the Lodge, until it be the pleasure of the 
Lodge to confer upon him the remaining degrees. — Page 
175—1861. 

That a candidate who has been rejected on his application 
for advancement may apply again at the next meeting; but 
that in such case the Master should direct the application 

lie over at least two weeks, in order that all the brethren 
5 



66 NEW YORK 

may have an opportunity to exercise their right. — Pages 19 
and 176—1861. 

Besolved, That we respectfully recommend to the M. W. 
Grand Master and E. W. Deputy Grand Master in no case 
whatever to grant a dispensation for conferring any degree 
in a less time than is allowed by law, unless the candidate 
has been duly proposed and accepted in some regular 
Lodge.— Page 178—1861. 

A Lodge has no right to initiate candidates residing 
within the jurisdiction of other Lodges without their con- 
sent, and the payment to such other Lodges of the fees 
received will not excuse a Lodge from the penalties of this 
act.— Pages 34 and 206—1862. 

Any member has a right to present the petition of an 
applicant for the degrees who has been rejected, for the 
purpose of obtaining the consent of the Lodge to the 
renewal of the application in another Lodge, and it is for 
the Lodge to decide, and not the Master, whether this 
consent will be given. — Pages 34 and 206 — 1862. 

The expression of a disposition on the part of the Grand 
Master to grant a dispensation for conferring the second 
and third degrees of Masonry in less time than allowed by 
the Constitutions, on the Lodge complying with certain 
conditions, does not authorize the Lodge to confer said 
degrees until the dispensation is supplied; and an Entered 
Apprentice receiving the degrees under such circumstances 
is irregularly passed and raised, and should be healed in 
respect to these degrees. He is, notwithstanding, a regu- 
larly made Mason as to the first degree. — Pages 31 and 206 
—1862. 

Though a brother has not the right to demand a re-ballot 
on a candidate who has been elected and received the first 



MASONIC CODE. 67 

degree, he has a right to demand a ballot on the second 
and third degrees, or to object to the initiation of a candi- 
date who has not been already initiated. (The Grand 
Lodge modified this decision as follows): We do not conceive 
the right of objection to the initiation here mentioned can 
have the effect to prevent the candidate from being made a 
Mason.— Pages 29 and 206—1862. 

The lapse of two and a half years does not disqualify an 
Entered Apprentice from advancement to the other degrees 
in the same Lodge, providing no objections are made, but 
if objections are ma<?e a ballot should be taken. ( The 
Grand Lodge modified this decision as follows): We do not 
conceive the right of objections to the advancement here 
mentioned can have the effect to prevent the brother from 
being advanced. It is proper that a ballot should be taken 
under such circumstances, but it is not imperative. — Pages 
29 and 206—1862. 

On an application for advancement in the same Lodge 
no investigating committee is necessary unless required by 
the by-laws or by resolution ; if made in another Lodge than 
that in which the candidate was initiated, a Committee must 
be appointed and act. — Pages 29 and 206 — 1862. 

A member has a right to vote as he thinks proper, on 
the reception or advancement of a candidate, and cannot be 
deprived of the right thus to vote, whether his object be 
declared or not.— Pages 29 and 206— 1862. 

A candidate who has been rejected on his application for 
advancement may apply again at the next meeting; but in 
such case the Master should direct the application to lie 
over at least two weeks. — Pages 29 and 206 — 1862. 

That where a majority and minority report are presented 
upon an application for initiation, it is the duty of the 



68 



NEW YORK 



Master to submit both reports to the Lodge, for its action, 
as in any other case, to be adopted or rejected as it may- 
deem best..— Page 166—1862. 

At any meeting of a Lodge, any member in good standing 
may demand a ballot on the advancement of a candidate; 
but should such demand be made at a special communica- 
tion, the balloting shall lie over until the next regular 
communication, and, in the meantime, and until such bal- 
loting shall be had, all proceedings on the advancement of 
the candidate must be absolutely stayed. ( The Committee 
on Jurisprudence, in a report which was accepted by the Grand 
Lodge, make an addition to the above decision as follows): It 
is to be understood that the ballot is to be demanded only 
when the candidate applies for such advancement. — Pages 
18 and 173—1863. 

That, although a candidate has been initiated, if it is 
ascertained that he has been previously rejected by another 
Lodge, his further progress must be stayed until consent to 
his advancement has been obtained from the Lodge that 
rejected him. — Pages 25 and 164 — 1864. 

That a candidate, who has been initiated and passed in a 
Lodge under dispensation, may, after the expiration of 
such dispensation, if no warrant is subsequently granted to 
such Lodge, apply to any lawfully constituted Lodge for 
the remaining degree, and is not restricted to the Lodge 
nearest his residence. — Pages 25 and 164 — 1864. 

That the provision of section 22 of the Constitution pro- 
hibiting a Lodge from making more than five new brethren 
at "the same time" evidently means "on the same day," and 
must be so regarded. — Pages 26 and 165 — 1864. 

That the rejection of a candidate by a Lodge having no 



MASONIC CODE. 69 

jurisdiction over him at the time of such rejection does not 
debar the Lodge having jurisdiction from receiving and 
initiating such candidate. — Pages 25 and 164—1864. 

That any member of the Lodge has the right to object to 
the initiation or advancement of a candidate at any time 
before the O. B. N., and that such objection shall be a bar 
to the further progress of the candidate until withdrawn. — 
Pages 28 and 185—1864. 

That all discussions as to the merits or demerits of a 
candidate are improper, as tending to impair the secrecy of 
the ballot by disclosing preferences of the members. — 
Pages 25 and 194—1865. 

Relative to Qualifications of Candidates. 

The Constitution of the Grand Lodge of New York is 
more restrictive as to the qualifications requisite to make a 
Mason than the Ancient Landmarks, and hence it is 
requisite that a person " must be at least twenty-one years 
of age, free born, of good report, hale and sound, not- 
deformed or dismembered,'' in order to become a Mason in 
this State.— Pages 29 and 206—1862. 

Resolved, That the physical qualifications of a candidate 
do not admit of absolute limit or definition, but must be 
determined by the exercise of the judgment and conscience 
of the Master and each individual brother; and that, being 
a Landmark, it is immutable and indestructible. — Page 146 
—1864. 

That a brother having received the first and second 
degrees, and afterward losing a leg or limb, can receive the 
third degree. The physical qualifications contained in the 
Landmarks must exist prior to being made a Mason. — 
Page 196—1865. 



70 NEW YOKK 

Relative to Balloting for Candidates. 

That the Master has the prerogative of ordering a further 
ballot for a candidate when he knows the result of the first 
to be unfavorable. 

The Grand Lodge recommended as a rule that but one 
additional ballot be allowed. — Pages 29 and 209 — 1858. 

That an unfavorable ballot for candidate or membership 
cannot be reconsidered. — Pages 29 and 209 — 1858. 

That a petition of a candidate, after being presented and 
referred to a Committee, cannot be withdrawn, but that the 
Committee must report and a ballot be had in all cases, 
thus explaining the ambiguity in sec. 8, sub. 13, of the 
Constitution.— Pages 29 and 209—1858. 

That an abuse of the right of ballot for candidates by a 
brother is a disciplinable offense; and hence, where a 
brother waived his privilege of secrecy, and avowed an 
unworthy motive for balloting against a candidate, he was 
subject to charges. — Pages 31 and 209 — 1858. 

That the by-law of a Lodge, limiting the number of bal- 
lotings for a candidate to two, is repugnant to the Land- 
marks and void; but that it is advisable that the discretion 
of the Master should not be exercised beyond a second 
ballot, and that for the purpose of avoiding mistakes. — 
Pages 28 and 256—1859. 

That it is highly irregular to postpone a ballot on candi- 
dates for an unreasonable or unlimited time, and that a 
vote to postpone, when the purpose is obviously to prevent 
the exercise of the right of objection, is void. — Pages 29 
and 256—1859. 

That when a ballot on a candidate for the symbolic 
degrees has been passed, and submitted for inspection to 



MASONIC CODE. 71 

the Wardens and Master, neither the Master nor the Lodge 
possesses the power to adjourn the balloting to a subse- 
quent meeting. — Pages 135 and 186 — 1860. 

A brother has the right to demand a ballot for the second 
and third degrees without showing cause therefor. The 
Grand Lodge has no power to abridge this right. — Pages 
29 and 206—1862. 

A ballot on the application of a candidate for the degrees 
cannot be indefinitely postponed, but must be acted upon 
by the Lodge.— Pages 35 and 206—1862. 

That it is unmasonic for any brother to be allowed to 
know how another brother may have voted on the admission 
of a candidate.— Pages 19 and 173—1863. 

That a Master has no right to order a ballot on a candi- 
date to lie over to a subsequent communication, after the 
candidate has once been balloted for. The Master has a 
right to order a second ballot, when the first has been 
unfavorable, but the balloting must be continuous and 
uninterrupted by any other business or proceeding. — Pages 
19 and 173—1863. 

That it is irregular to propose or ballot for a candidate 
at a special communication, notwithstanding the Lodge 
may be specially summoned for that purpose, and although 
notice of the intention to do so may have been openly 
proclaimed at its last previous regular communication. — 
Pages 18 and 173—1863. 

That an unfavorable report by the Committee of Investi- 
gation does not reject a candidate. A ballot is necessary 
in all cases. — Pages 25 and 194:— 1865. 

That where the by-laws of the Lodge authorize the 
Master, at his discretion, to close the Lodge from May 



72 NEW YORK 

until October, and he has closed it accordingly; any meeting 
called by him in the interim is a special meeting, at which 
it would be improper to receive or act upon petitions for 
initiation or membership. — Pages 24 and 194 — 1865. 

That if a resident rejected candidate should by inad- 
vertence or by a concealment of facts be proposed in a 
Lodge, other than that which rejected him, in less than six 
months after such rejection, the Lodge in which he has been 
thus lastly proposed must ballot on his application, even 
though it is known that his receiving the degrees after his 
election would be illegal. A penalty for deceit or conceal- 
ment should be inflicted. — 1866. 

That when a second ballot, after a first favorable one, is 
demanded on a candidate, the Lodge can not lay the bal- 
loting over, but must proceed forthwith to ballot, if the 
demand be made at a regular communication. If the 
demand be made at a special communication, the candidate 
becomes immediately estopped, and the ballot must be 
taken at the next regular communication. That the brother 
making the demand may at any time withdraw it previously 
to the taking of the ballot.— 1866. 

Relative to Candidates from other Jurisdictions. 

Resolved, That a Lodge shall not initiate a candidate 
unless, in addition to the usual qualifications, he shall be 
an actual bona fide resident of the State, having his home 
therein; but this shall not apply to inhabitants of countries 
where regular Lodges do not exist, nor to mariners in the 
actual practice of their profession, nor to persons in the 
military or naval ofiices while in the service. — Pages 177 
and 198—1861. 

Resolved, That any Lodge subordinate to and within the 
jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, who shall hereafter 



MASONIC CODE. 73 

initiate, pass, or raise any person residing within the juris- 
diction of any other Grand Lodge, shall, for such offense, 
forfeit its charter, provided it shall be made to appear that 
such Lodge has acted with a knowledge of the fact that the 
person so initiated belongs to such other jurisdiction, and 
unless permission to do so shall first be obtained from such 
jurisdiction.— Page 187—1860. 

That if there should be proposed in a Lodge a resident, 
of a foreign jurisdiction, and that fact should be discovered, 
previously to the report of the Investigating Committee, a 
ballot is not necessary ; the Lodge never having had territorial 
jurisdiction of the candidate, and should cease to exercise 
control over the material belonging to another State or • 
country as soon as its mistake has been discovered.— 1866. 

Relative to Membership. 

That where a brother had been affiliated by a unanimous: 
vote, without the reference of his petition or its being laid, 
over till the following communication, and had been, 
enrolled and registered as a member, had paid dues regu- 
larly, and voted and exercised all the privileges of a member 
for three years, without objection, although irregular, yet. 
it was too late to question his bona fide membership.— 
Pages 28 and 256—1856. 

That a non-affiliated Mason may become an adjoining 
member of any Lodge within the jurisdiction, care being 
taken to consult the Lodge whence he dimitted, and, 
nearest his residence.— Pages 31 and 256—1859. 

A Master Mason in good standing in .&• Lodge, becoming; 
a petitioning member for a new Lodge to which a dis- 
pensation and warrant are subsequently issued, is a member 
of the new Lodge after the warrant is issued, unless, 



74 NEW YORK 

immediately upon the expiration of the dispensation he 
give proper notice to the contrary. — Page 233 — 1863. 

That a member of a Lodge U. D. does not, by becoming 
such member, defeat the warranted Lodge in which his 
membership has become suspended, of jurisdiction over 
him for Masonic offenses. That he can demand to be 
admitted into such Lodge as matter of right; that he has a 
right to be heard orally in his defense before the Lodge, 
should charges be preferred against him. That he has a 
right to prefer charges against a member of the warranted 
Lodge, in that Lodge, and to prosecute the same ; but that 
for all other purposes he has no rights in the warranted 
Lodge.— 1866. 

Relative to Non-affiliated Masons. 

If a non-affiliated Mason apply for affiliation at a regular 
meeting, and the petition is received, referred to a Com- 
mittee, and reported upon favorably, and he is elected at a 
subsequent regular meeting by a unanimous ballot, he 
thereby becomes a member of the Lodge, and no re-ballot 
can be taken to deprive him of his membership at a future 
meeting. The law which gives the right to re-ballot 
applies to petitioners for the degrees, and not for affiliation. 
Constitutions, section 8, rule 14. — Pages 36 and 207 — 1862. 

In the case of an application for membership of a non- 
affiliated Mason who has been rejected, there is no law 
forbidding him to renew the same at the next or any other 
regular meeting. —Pages 36 and 206—1862. 

•A brother has a right to affiliate with any Lodge he 
thinks proper, and is not restricted to the Lodge in whose 
jurisdiction he resides. — Pages 36 and 206 — 1862. 

It is entirely competent for any Lodge to receive and act 



MASONIC CODE. 75 

upon the petition of a non-affiliated Mason whose Lodge 
has ceased to exist, on proper evidence of this fact being 
offered. The most authentic evidence of this character 
would be the certificate of the Grand Secretary in whose 
jurisdiction the brother formerly resided. — Pages 36 and 
206—1862. 

That although an unaffiliated Mason has no claim upon 
the Fraternity for relief or Masonic burial, yet a Lodge 
may grant either, or both, to those otherwise worthy. It 
is only unworthy, suspended or expelled Masons that are 
forbidden these privileges by section 51 of the Constitution. 
—Pages 26 and 164^-1864. 

Membership in two Lodges. 

Can a brother who was in December last duly elected 
and installed Master of a Lodge in New Jersey, and has 
acted as a member of the Grand Lodge of that State, act as 
a member of this Grand Body ? In answer to this question 
the Grand Lodge decided thattmder section 25, subdivision 
2, of the Constitutions, no person can be a member of two 
Lodges at the same time; it follows, therefore, that the 
question must be answered in the negative. — Page 165 — 
1862. 

Helative to Honorary Members. 

That as a general rule Lodges should refuse to elect as 
honorary members those who are not contributing mem- 
bers of a regular Lodge.— Page 210 — 1858. 

That honorary members are not entitled to vote or hold 
office; and that the same person may be an honorary 
member of several Lodges, and that they have not the 
right to visit more than twice unless the applicant be an 
affiliated member of some regular Lodge. — Pages 30 and 
210—1858. 



76 NEW YORK 

That honorary members have no other rights than non- 
affiliated members, and are only relieved by their position 
from certain constitutional disabilities. — Pages 30 and 256 
—1859. 

An honorary member of a Lodge has no right to vote 
therein, and is not eligible to any office therein except that 
of Tiler.— Pages 31 and 206—1862. 

There are but two classes of Masons eligible to honorary 
membership in a subordinate Lodge, and these are: 

1. Brothers who belong to some other Lodge than that 
in which they are made honorary members. 

2. Non-affiliated Masons, seeking to form a connection 
with some Lodge. 

Hence it is improper, under sections 24 and 50 of the 
Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of New York, to make an 
honorary member of one who is already a full member of 
the same Lodge in which he is proposed to be made an 
honorary member. — Pages 31 and 206 — 1862. 

That there are two species of honorary members recog- 
nized by our Constitutions: 

1. Those who are such by adoption, conferred on them 
as a honorarium and by way of compliment. 

2. A poor brother entitled to all the privileges of mem- 
bership, except as noted below. 

Neither are entitled to vote, and consequently cannot 
hold office; but are exempt from dues. 

Of the first class, a brother may belong to as many Lodges 
as think fit so to honor him, and so may a brother of the 
second class, when the object is merely complimentary; 
but if of the second class only, he can claim the benefit of 
such membership in but one Lodge. — Page 197 — 1865. 



MASONIC CODE. 77 

Relative to Visitors. 

Resolved, That the Lodges of this jurisdiction be and 
they are hereby directed to exercise prudence and vigilance 
in the examination of all visitors; so that none be admitted 
unless, in addition to the requisites prescribed by the laws 
of this Grand Lodge and the usages of the Fraternity, they 
also acknowledge the authority of, and promise to pay 
obedience to, this or some other Grand Lodge which is 
recognized as regular by the Grand Lodge of New York. — 
Page 128—1855. 

That it is the right of a brother in good standing to visit 
all regular Lodges, but it is also the right of a Lodge to 
refuse such visit, if, in their opinion, their peace and 
harmony may be thereby disturbed. — Page 210 — 1858. 

That it is the right of a Master to determine the validity 
of objections to a request to visit; he being responsible for 
the abuse of his discretion. — Pages 29 and 256 — 1859. 

The Master of a Lodge has the power to direct the with- 
drawal of a visiting brother therefrom, if, in his opinion, 
the presence of such visiting brother will disturb its 
harmony, or cause the withdrawal of any member on 
account of such presence. — Pages 31 and 206 — 1862. 

Relative to Lodges under Dispensation. 

Resolved, That no subordinate Lodge under the jurisdic- 
tion of this Grand Lodge shall hereafter recommend a 
petition for a dispensation until such Lodge shall satisfy 
itself, first, of the good Masonic standing of the petitioners ; : 
and secondly, that a sufficient number of the petitioners 
are masonically competent to undertake the government ol 
a Lodge, and for this purpose said recommending Lodge 
shall cause one or more of the petitioners to come before 



78 NEW YOBK 

it, and in open Lodge satisfactorily exemplify the work 
and lectures of the three first degrees of Masonry. — Page 
131-1855. 

Resolved, That the first three officers named in a petition 
for a dispensation shall appear before the Lodge, whose 
recommendation is constitutionally necessary, and exhibit 
their work in the three degrees, and if, in the judgment of 
such Lodge, said officers are competent to confer the 
degrees and impart the lectures, the said Lodge may recom- 
mend the said petitioners for a dispensation, and not 
otherwise.— Page 174—1857. 

That a petitioner for a Lodge to work under dispensation 
must, when the dispensation expires and a warrant is 
granted instead, give notice to which Lodge he intends to 
belong, or he will be deemed a member of the new Lodge. 
—Pages 30 and 209—1858. 

That sub. 17, of sec. 8, of the Constitutions suspends the 
membership of all brethren who take part in a Lodge U. 
D. in their warranted Lodge, and that the membership of 
a Master cannot be suspended except by death or removal 
beyond the jurisdiction, and hence that he cannot lawfully 
preside in both bodies. — Page 210 — 1858. 

That a Lodge U. D. has the same territorial jurisdiction 
over candidates, and also over offenders, as a warranted 
Lodge.— Pages 29 and 256—1859. 

Resolved, That this Grand Lodge recommend to the M. 
W. Grand Master and his Deputy that no dispensations for 
the establishment of new Lodges be granted within three 
months next preceding the annual communications of this 
Grand Lodge.— Page 245—1859. 

Though the Grand Master has, in my estimation, the 



MASONIC CODE. 79 

power to grant a dispensation for the organization of a 
Lodge U. D., without the recommendation of the nearest 
Lodge, this being a prerogative which has come down with 
his office for centuries past, and before a Grand Lodge was 
known, he will not do so, in any case, while either the 
fundamental laws or resolutions of the Grand Lodge forbid 
it. ( The Grand Lodge modified this opinion of Grand Master 
King, as follows): If the Grand Master were creating Lodges 
beyond the jurisdiction of a Grand Lodge, he might dis- 
pense with the recommendation of the nearest or any other 
Lodge, but while in the jurisdiction of a Grand Lodge, and 
in the establishment of new Lodges to be governed by it, 
but acting as its agent, he is necessarily subject to its 
constitutional rules. — Pages 30 and 206 — 18€2. 

The membership of brethren signing a petition for a dis- 
pensation is in abeyance in respect to the Lodge in which 
they were previously members, during the life of the dis- 
pensation, and will be terminated as to that Lodge on 
ganting a charter to the new Lodge, unless they signify 
their desire to remain connected with the former Lodge. — 
Pages 32 and 206—1862. 

A Lodge under dispensation can and ought to make rules 
for its government. — Pages 35 and 206 — 1862. 

It would be very improper for the Grand Master to 
promise or decide beforehand what he will do on an 
application for a dispensation for a new Lodge. Each 
application of this character must stand upon its own merits, 
after all the circumstances shall have been considered, and 
no dispensation will be issued without the maturest 
consideration. — Pages 35 and 206 — 1862. 

Dues are collectable from a member who has signed the 
petition for a new Lodge, up to the time of granting a 
dispensation. — Pages 33 and 207 — 1862. 



80 < NEW YOKK 

Resolved, That the Grand Secretary be instructed to 
demand and receive dues from every member of a Lodge 
under dispensation. — Page 205 — 1862. 

That where the dispensation or warrant of a Lodge fixes 
its location in a particular ward or locality in a city, it can- 
not be removed from that ward or locality, without permis- 
sion of the Grand Master or Grand Lodge. — Pages 27 and 
164—1864 

Resolved, That hereafter all Lodges which shall receive 
warrants shall be restricted by language in the warrants, to 
working in the places stated in the dispensations, and shall 
not remove therefrom except by permission of the Grand 
Lodge.— Page 136—1861 

Resolved, That hereafter and before the return to this 
Grand Lodge of any dispensation to form a new Lodge, 
and at least one month before the annual communication 
of this Grand Lodge, the D. D. Grand Master of the dis- 
trict in which such Lodge may be located shall certify to 
the character of the proceedings of such Lodge, and 
instruct such Lodge in the way and manner in which an 
application for a warrant must be made; that the D. D. 
Grand Master shall then forthwith transmit to the Grand 
Master a certificate of the condition of the said Lodge, a 
duplicate of which certificate shall be forwarded to the 
Grand Secretary; in the absence of which certificate no 
application for a warrant shall be entertained by any Com- 
mittee on warrants of this Grand Lodge. — Page 135 — 1864. 

That members of Lodges not under the jurisdiction of 
this Grand Lodge cannot be petitioners for a dispensation 
to form a new Lodge in this State without first dimitting 
from their former Lodge. — Pages 25 and 164. — 1864. 



MASONIC CODE. 81 

That the proper interpretation of section 19 of the 
Constitutions is that in cities a dispensation may issue to 
form a new Lodge without the recommendation of all the 
Lodges whose jurisdiction shall be affected by such dispen- 
sation, for all such Lodges have concurrent jurisdiction. 
But it was not intended to exempt them from procuring 
any recommendation whatever. — Pages 24 and 194 — 1865. 

That Lodges U. D. have the right to affiliate Masons. — 
1866. 

Petitioners for Dispensation must Pay Dues in Old 
Lodge. 

Resolved, That no dispensation or warrant for the forma- 
tion of a new Lodge under this jurisdiction shall be granted 
unless the application be accompanied by cards of with- 
drawal from the Lodge to which applicant formerly be- 
longed, or certificates duly attested, stating that the dues 
of each applicant are paid in the Lodge to which he 
belongs, up to the time of making such application, and 
that he is in good standing in said Lodge. — Pages 166 and 
177—1856. 

Relative to Fees and Dues. 

Resolved, That when the forfeited charter of a Lodge 
is revived it is not to be considered as a new Lodge, and 
former initiates and members have the privilege of rejoin- 
ing, on a vote of the Lodge, without paying the Grand 
Lodge fees, as is provided in article 20 of the Constitution. 
—Page 58—1849. 

Resolved, That any Lodge under the jurisdiction of this 
Grand Lodge, which shall permit the first degree in Masonry 
to be conferred, before the candidate has paid the amount 
required by the Constitution for the first three degrees 
(viz: $15) (now $20) violates the letter and spirit of the 
6 



82 NEW YORK 

Constitution of the Grand Lodge ; and any Lodge that in any 
way or manner compromises that part of the Constitution, 
subjects itself to a forfeiture of its charter. — Page 133 — 1855. 

That the deposit fee of a candidate (the by-laws providing 
for its return in case of rejection) is not money belonging 
to the Lodge, before action is had on the petition. — Pages 
30 and 256—1859. 

A Lodge may receive an adjoining member with or without 
fee as it may decide, though the Lodge itself must pay fifty 
cents therefor to the Grand Lodge. — Pages 36 and 206— 
1862. 

The Grand Master has no authority to grant a dispensa- 
tion to remit the fees for the degrees. The Grand Lodge 
itself has no such authority. They must be paid in all 
cases, except in those special cases provided for by the 
Constitutions on the initiation of the candidate. — Pages 
33 and 206—1862. 

A Lodge has no right to remit the dues of a member; 
though there is nothing in our laws to forbid a Lodge 
making such donations to brethren for charitable objects as 
it may think proper. — Pages 33 and 206 — 1862. 

Neither the Grand Master nor the Grand Lodge has any 
authority to remit the fee for the organization of a Military 
or any other Lodge; but the Grand Lodge has authority to 
make an appropriation to an amount equal to the fees for a 
dispensation.— Pages 33 and 206—1862. 

It is competent for a Lodge to provide in its by-laws 
what disposition shall be made of the fees accompanying 
a petition, but if no such by-law has been passed it forms 
part of the petition, and does not go into the funds of the 
Lodge, nor need it be paid to the Treasurer, until affirmative 



MASONIC CODE. 83 

action shall have been taken on the petition. It forms a 
part of the initiation fee in case of the candidate's accept- 
ance, or is to be returned to hirn by the Secretary in case 
of his rejection.— Pages 32 and 206—1862. 

That clergymen cannot be received without fee ; but the 
Lodge may donate a sum equivalent to the amount of the 
fee, for the purpose of paying the same. — Pages 18 and 
173—1863. 

(Also in the same report the Committee on Jurisprudence rule 
as follows): Although it may be said that the requirement 
of a fee from a clergyman, which may be immediately after 
donated to him, is but an empty form, yet we hold that a 
Lodge has absolute control over its own funds which it may 
have acquired, and that it may make such disposition of 
them, as it may deem proper, if it be prepared to meet all 
engagements which the laws and usages of the Fraternity 
impose upon it. — Page 173 — 1863. 

That a Lodge may refund £he dues of an indigent mem- 
ber; but this will not relieve them from the payment of 
dues for such member to the Grand Lodge. — Pages 26 and 
164— 1864. 

Relative to "Witnesses, Testimony, and Trials. 

Resolved, That it is the right of the accused, on all trials, 
to be present at the time the testimony of witnesses are 
(is) given against him, and that no Commissioners can 
refuse it without the violation of a rule of Masonic juris- 
prudence. — Page 115 — 1856. 

That it is the duty of a Master to issue a summons for 
witnesses under sec. 56, in writing, but equally the duty of 
a brother to obey it when only verbal. — Pages 29 and 209 — 
1858. 



81 NEW YORK 

That witnesses on such (Masonic) trials need not, and 
should not, be sworn. — Page 28 and 256 — 1859, 

That in such (Masonic) trials, the denial of a charge by 
the accused, on his Masonic word, cannot counterbalance 
the unirnpeached testimony of witnesses who are not 
Masons.— Pages 29 and 256— 1859. 

That in Masonic trials the aid of counsel, not being 
Masons, is contrary to the rules of Masonry. — Pages 29 and 
256—1859. 

That a brother might be tried by a Lodge on charges of 
having embezzled the funds of a Chapter. — Pages 29 and 
256—1859. 

That where charges had been preferred against a brother 
for a criminal offense, and served upon him and Commis- 
sioners appointed, who attended his trial for the same 
offense in a court of law, and heard the testimony of the 
witnesses on both sides; it was unnecessary for them to 
put him on trial before them, but they might report on the 
evidence thus heard. — Pages 28 and 256 — 1859. 

That a brother cannot be twice tried for the same offense, 
on the ground of newly-discovered evidence, or on any 
other ground. — Pages 30 and 256 — 1859. 

That challenges to Commissioners in Masonic trials must 
be made before the trial commences; but if for cause after- 
wards discovered, it is reasonable ground for a new trial — . 
Pages 29 and 256—1859. 

That charges made on political or religious grounds should 
not be entertained by a Lodge. — Pages 30 and 256 — 1859. 

Resolved, That the forms and course of procedure on 
charges preferred within the jurisdiction of this M. W. 
Grand Master, and annexed to the journal of the last 



MASONIC CODE. 85 

annual communication (1859) be, and the same are hereby, 
adopted.— Page 172—1860. 

That where a Mason has been convicted of a felony by a 
jury of his country, the Lodge, to administer discipline, 
must proceed in the usual form, only that a copy of the 
charges made need not be served on him, and a certified 
copy of the record of conviction is sufficient evidence for 
the prosecution. — Pages 19 and 176 — 1861. 

That a Mason may be tried for a grave offense committed 
previous to his initiation, and the knowledge of which had 
been purposely withheld from the Lodge at the time of his 
making. — Pages 19 and 176 — 1861. 

That an Entered Apprentice may be put on trial and 
disciplined for unmasonic conduct, but his trial must be 
had before a Commission of Master Masons. — Pages 18 and 
176—1861. 

That a brother against whom charges have been preferred 
remains in good standing till the decision of the Commis- 
sioners appointed to try him has been finally and adversely 
passed upon by the Lodge. — Pages 19 and 176 — 1861. 

If the Secretary or Treasurer withhold funds belonging 
to the Lodge, and refuse to pay them over, charges should 
be preferred, and the delinquent tried by a Commission, as 
prescribed in section 60 of the Constitutions. — Pages 32 
and 206—1862. 

It is competent for Trial Commissioners to authorize the 
issuing of a Commission to take evidence of a foreign 
witness, and if, on a proper case being made therefor, they 
err in the denial of the application, their decision will be 
corrected on appeal. - Pages 34 and 206 — 1862. 

It is not competent for a Lodge to order a new trial on 



86 NEW YORK 

the same charges as before; this duty belongs to the officer 
who hears the appeal, but the Lodge may, if it think proper, 
appeal directly to the Grand Lodge. — Pages 34 and 206 — 
1862. 

A Master Mason testifying before a Masonic Commission 
cannot be impeached by testimony as to reputation only. 
Until he is tried and excluded from the Craft, he is entitled 
to the credit attached to regular standing. — Pages 24 and 
194—1865. 

That a brother has a right to act as a trial Commissioner 
and join his colleagues in making a report, should he have 
entered on the trial of a case, though during the trial he 
should, by being a petitioner for a Lodge U. D., become a 
member of that Lodge on receiving its warrant. — 1866. 

Expelled Mason Cannot Testify. 

That an expelled Mason cannot testify before a Masonic 
Commission. — Pages 24 and 194 — 1865. 

Relative to Service and Force of Charges. 

That in case of an absconding member, service of charges 
may be mailed to his last known place of residence, and 
the trial proceed in his absence after a reasonable time has 
elapsed.— Pages 28 and 209—1858. 

That charges against a brother do not, before trial, render 
him ineligible to office or suspend him from office, he being 
entitled to the presumption of innocence till the charges 
be proved.— Pages 30 and 209—1858. 

That where a Lodge omitted to entertain charges against 
one of its members, transacting business in a distant 
county, the nearest Lodge to such place of business, and 
where the alleged offense was committed, might lawfully 



MASONIC CODE, 87 

entertain jurisdiction of the matter, and try the brother. — 
Pages 30 and 256—1859. 

That when the Grand Lodge reverses the rinding of a 
Lodge for irregularity or want of proof, the defendant 
thereby becomes entitled to all the rights and privileges he 
enjoyed before charges were preferred against him. — Pages 
19 and 176—1861. 

That when charges are preferred against a Master of a 
Lodge, the Grand Master may, in his discretion, suspend 
him from the functions of his office during the investigation. 
—Pages 19 and 176—1861. 

Can a non-affiliated Mason prefer charges against a mem- 
ber of a Lodge in his Lodge, and is it the duty of the Master 
to refer such a charge to a commission ? (In answer to this 
question, the Grand Lodge decided): That under the pro- 
visions of section 51 of the Constitutions it is the duty of 
every Mason to belong to some Lodge, and that unless he 
does so no rights are secured to him beyond those of the 
profane, in regard to the government and discipline of 
Masonry and the internal concerns of a Lodge; that he 
cannot, therefore, prefer charges against a brother, except 
through an officer* a member, or by order of a majority of 
the Lodge.— Page 166—1862. 

Charges having been preferred against a brother, and the 
charges and a summons having been served upon him, and 
he failing to appear in accordance with the summons, and 
no cause having been shown for his non-appearance, the 
Lodge may proceed, either as for a contempt, and inflict a 
penalty, or the charges may be proceeded with to judgment, 
in the same manner as if the alleged delinquent had 
appeared, in which case, however, it would be the duty of 
the Master to appoint some intelligent and disinterested 



bO NEW YORK 

brother to act before the Commissioners in behalf of the 
accused.— Pages 18 and 173—1863. 

That it is the province of Commissioners, during the 
examination of charges, to exclude from the room all 
persons except the witness under examination, if they 
should deem it proper so to do. — Pages 19 and 173 — 1863. 

That after a Commission has reported, the report, if 
accepted, is the property of the Lodge. Any brother of the 
Lodge has a right to call for the reading of the evidence, 
and it is the duty of the Master to order it to be read. If 
an appeal should be taken to the Grand Lodge, a copy of 
the proceedings of the Commissioners should be filed in the 
Grand Secretary's office. — Pages 19 and 173—1863. 

That in a case where charges have been preferred against 
a brother who may reside at a distance from the locality of 
the Lodge, the following rules shall prevail until there 
shall have been some legislation disposing of the subject: 

1. That the Secretary, under direction of the Master, 
shall cause the accused to be served with a copy of the 
charges, and a summons stating the time and place of trial. 

2. If the residence of the accused is known, and is within 
thirty miles of the place where the Lodge may be located, 
he shall be entitled to personal service at least ten days 
before the time of trial. 

3. If his residence be at a greater distance than thirty 
miles, but within the State, a like copy of charges and a 
like summons forwarded to him by mail, at least twenty 
days before the time of trial, shall be deemed sufficient. 

4. If his residence be out of the State, and known to the 
Lodge, and more than thirty miles distant from its place of 
meeting, a like copy of charges and a like summons may 



MASONIC CODE. 89 

be forwarded to him by mail, at least thirty days before the 
time of trial, which shall be deemed sufficient. 

5. If his residence be unknown, the Lodge may proceed 
ex parte and conduct the case to judgment, and like pro- 
ceedings may be had when he refuses to obey the summons. 
—Pages 19 and 173—1863. 

That a Commission for the trial of charges have no 
powers excepting those which are specially delegated to 
them by the Grand Lodge, the Grand Master or other officer 
appointing them, or by a particular Lodge, and hence that 
they cannot amend or in any manner alter the charges or 
specifications which were referred to them for trial; that 
the accused must be tried on the charges as the Commission 
received them, or they must report the charges back to the 
Lodge for informality in form, texture, or substance (if 
either should be found to be the fact), and then await its 
action on that report. — Pages 19 and 173 — 1863. 

That in all cases where a Master Mason, or a brother of 
a lesser degree, is sought to be tried for alleged offenses 
against the person, reputation, or property of an alleged 
aggrieved party, the name of the party so alleged to have 
been aggrieved must be set forth at length, or with reason- 
able certainty in the specifications, as well as the time and 
incidents of the alleged offenses, so that the accused brother 
may be able to take issue on the facts, and come to his 
defense with a full knowledge of the misconduct sought to 
be proved against him. — Pages 19 and 173 — 1863. 

That an officer to whom charges are preferred is not 
obliged to appoint Commissioners, but may, in his discretion, 
dismiss them, if, upon their face, they are clearly frivolous, 
or would not constitute an offense if proven. — Pages 24 
and 194—1865. 



90 NEW YORK 

That charges against a non-affiliated Mason may be 
preferred to the Grand Lodge, the Grand Master, or the 
Lodge in whose jurisdiction the accused resides. Each 
has jurisdiction. — Pages 24 and 194 — 1865 . 

That Lodges under dispensation have no jurisdiction to 
try charges against the members composing it. Such 
charges must be presented to the Lodge from which the 
petitioners hailed at the time of issuing dispensation, or to 
the Grand Master. —Pages 25 and 194—1865. 

That charges can be preferred against a brother for an 
offense committed previous to his initiation. — Page 196 — 
1865. 

Junior Warden to Present Charges. 

That Masonic usage has made the Junior Warden the 
complainant in all charges preferred to a Lodge. (This 
decision modified by the Grand Lodge, as follows): That the 
duty of the Junior Warden is to present to the Lodge all 
charges for misconduct during the recess, and that he is 
not necessarily the prosecutor. — Pages 28 and 209 — 1858. 

That charges may be preferred through the Junior 
Warden, but that in all cases the brother against whom 
complaint is made has a right to know who is his real 
accuser.— Pages 18 and 176 — 1861. 

Relative to Commissioners and tlieir Reports. 

That Commissioners, under section 60 of the Constitu- 
tions, hear, try and determine the punishment of the 
accused, but their report is not final, but must be acted 
upon by the Lodge and be approved, modified or rejected. 
—Pages 29 and 209—1858. 

That a majority of Commissioners appointed for a trial 
are competent to act and come to a conclusion even 



MASONIC CODE. 91 

although one or more members do not act at all ; provided 
such majority agree in the conclusion. — Pages 28 and 256 — 
1859. 

Resolved, That this Grand Lodge recommends to all its 
subordinate Lodges that whenever an appeal shall be taken 
from a decision of trial by Commissioners, and the decision 
reversed, that they shall, if desired by the Grand Officer to 
whom the appeal shall be taken, relinquish jurisdiction so 
as to allow a Commission from other Lodges to be appointed 
by the officer to whom the appeal may be made. — Page 186 
—1861. 

That where objection is made against one or more Com- 

" missioners for bias, they should either resign and others 

be named in their places, or triers be appointed and the 

defendant given an opportunity to show cause. — Pages 19 

and 176—1861. 

The report of Commissioners on the trial of a brother 
must be submitted to the Lodge for its approval, disap- 
proval, or modification. — Pages 34 and 206 — 1862. 

Resolved, That the motion to refer back the report of the 
Commission to amend the verdict is not in order. — Page 
152— 1864. 

Relative to the Election of Wardens. 

Resolved, That the Constitution of this Grand Lodge 
does not confer upon the M. W. Grand Master the power 
to grant dispensations to hold new elections for Wardens of 
subordinate Lodges. — Page 155 — 1856. 

That the provisions of section 38 of the Constitutions do 
not authorize a dispensation to fill a vacancy in the office of 
Warden.— Pages 28 and 209—1858. 



92 NEW YORK 

Eligibility of a Warden for Master, 

That the service of one year as a Warden required to 
make a brother eligible as Master need not have been per- 
formed in the Lodge over which he is chosen as Master. — 
Pages 30 and 209—1858. 

That the Y/ardens of a Lodge chartered in June are, at 
the expiration of their term of office in December following, 
eligible to the office of Master.— Pages 27 and 164—1864 

Relative to Masters and Wardens. 

That Masters or Wardens cannot make a vacancy in their 
offices by resigning before the close of their constitutional 
term, or by dimitting to join another warranted Lodge in 
the jurisdiction.— Pages 30 and 209—1858. 

That the "resignation referred to in section 39 of the 
Constitutions is inapplicable to Masters and Wardens, and 
applies only to officers who may resign. — Pages 29 and 256 
—1859. 

That under our Constitutions, the Master and Wardens 
being absent from the meetings of a Lodge, their power does 
not revert to the last or any other Past Master, nor can the 
Lodge supply their places. — Pages 20 and 176—1861. 

That a Warden can preside and open a Lodge in the 
presence of the Master, at his request, and in the absence 
of the Master he assumes all the duties of that office; and 
the Master may call upon any Master Mason to preside in 
his presence and under his direction: but the Master is 
responsible for all that is done, the same as if he were 
actually presiding in person.— Pages 25 and 194 — 1865. 

Relative to tlie Election of Master. 

That a Lodge may elect a Master duly qualified, who 



MASONIC CODE. 93 

resides out of the jurisdiction, if he be a member of the 
Lodge fcr which he is elected. — Pages 30 and 257 — 1859. 

The Grand Master has no power to authorize the election 
of a Master from the floor of a Lodge. He must have 
served as Master before, or as Warden for the term of one 
year.— Pages 30 and 206—1862. 

The pendancy of charges against a member of a Lodge 
who is being voted for as Master does not vitiate the votes 
cast for him, or render him ineligible to an election. — Pages 
31 and 206—1862. 

That each and every member of a Lodge in good standing 
is eligible to the office of Master thereof, with the single 
qualification that he shall have previously served as Warden. 
That if such membership be constitutionally and lawfully 
acquired, he is personally not only under the jurisdiction of 
his particular Lodge, but of the Grand Lodge under which 
that Lodge hails, and that it is not necessary that either 
have territorial jurisdiction over the place of his domicile; 
it is his Masonic and not his actual home which gives this 
jurisdiction. 

Removal beyond the " jurisdiction" only destroys the 
right to office after it is filled, and must follow and not 
precede the election, and the sole fact of non-residence is no 
bar to an election. — Pages 211 and 215 — 1863. 

That a brother was not eligible under the provisions of 
the Constitutions to the office of Master of the Lodge in a 
given case, as follows: A dispensation was issued to estab- 
lish a Lodge, in which a brother was named as first Master. 
The Lodge was warranted in June, 1862, and the brother 
acted as Master till December, 1862, when his successor 
was chosen. He afterward affiliated with another Lodge, 



94 NEW YOEK 

and in December, 1864, he was elected and installed its 
Master, never having been a Warden, and never having 
served as Master prior to his election in December, 1864. — 
Page 197—1865. 

Relative to Masonic Libraries. 

Resolved, That such of the subordinate Lodges in the 
jurisdiction as are in a financial condition to do so (this 
being left to their own judgment,) are hereby recommended 
to appropriate an annual sum for the purchase of Masonic 
books and periodicals, and the establishment of a Lodge 
library for the use of their members. — Page 122 — 1855. 

Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended by this 
Grand Lodge to all the subordinate Lodges within its juris- 
diction, to adopt such measures as they may deem most 
expedient and effective to found and encourage libraries for 
the use and instruction of the members. — Page 159 — 1856. 

Who are Past Grand Officers. 

Resolved, That the true meaning of the words "Past 
Grand Officers," in section 90 of the Constitution, is that it 
refers to and embraces only Past Grand Masters, Past 
Deputy Grand Masters, Past Grand Wardens, Past Grand 
Treasurers, and Past Grand Secretaries, and no others who 
may have held office in the Grand Lodge. — Page 168 — 1856. 

Sectarian Prayers not to be Used. 

Resolved, That while the Grand Lodge of the State of 
New York would not dictate any form of worship at the 
opening or closing of Lodges, or in the conferring of 
degrees, they would recommend to all subordinate Lodges 
that care should be taken not to suffer the introduction of 
anything of a sectarian or denominational character. — Page 
35—1857. 



MASONIC CODS. 95 

Relative to Holding Election in Lodges. 

The annual election of Lodge officers must take place on 
the regular meeting next preceding the Festival of St. John, 
December 27, and any election prior to that time, unless to 
fill a vacancy, is irregular and void.— Pages 32 and 206 — 
1862. 

That by the terms of all warrants issued by this Grand 
Lodge, the members of a Lodge must be duly summoned 
for the annual election of officers. — Pages 26 and 164: — 1864. 

Resolved, That it is irregular to hold an annual election 
without the Lodge being first duly summoned therefor, 
which summons should be served at least ten days prior to 
the day of such election. — Page 65 — 1866. 

Religions Qualifications. 

That the only religious test to be applied to a candidate 
is as to his belief in a Supreme Being, the Creator and 
Ruler of the Universe, and in the immortality of the soul. — 
Pages 19 and 176—1861. 

Relative to Taxation. 

Resolved, That it is inexpedient for this Grand Lodge to 
adopt any regulation to compel Masons who^are not mem- 
bers of any Grand Lodge to pay a tax for the support of 
the institution, or to require such Masons to unite with 
Lodges contrary to their inclination or against the dictates 
of their own judgment. — Page 45 — 1848. 

That a Lodge has a right to tax its members above their 
ordinary dues for necessary and strictly Masonic purposes. 
—Pages 29 and 256—1859. 

A Lodge has the right to levy a tax or assessment on its 
members for the purpose of paying its just debts or neces- 



96 NEW YORK 

sary expenses; and if a member refuse to pay such tax, he 
may be dealt with under our disciplinary code. — Pages 33 
and 206—1862. 

Insurance on Property. 

Resolved, That it is earnestly recommended to the Lodges 
to guard against loss from lire, to effect a reasonable 
insurance upon their property; and that in future this 
Grand Lodge will extend no relief to Lodges not so insured, 
except under very peculiar circumstances. — Page 141 — 1850. 

Ancient aad Aceepted Hite no Authority over the 
Three Degrees. 

Resolved, That in the opinion of this Grand Lodge no 
Supreme Council or Consistory of the Ancient or Scottish 
rite has any authority or power over the first three degrees, 
or any right to issue charters to establish Lodges for those 
degrees, and that the act of doing so ought to be repudiated 
and discountenanced by all regular Masons. — Page 84: — 
1851. 

Relative to Charitable Relief. 

Resolved, 1st. That those provisions in the by-laws of 
Lodges, compelling their members to contribute to chari- 
table relief, are at variance with the principles of our Order. 
2d. That such by-laws, if any there be among our Lodges, 
should be abandoned, and other voluntary associations, if 
desirable, be raised to obtain the same objects; at least no 
Lodge shall suspend any brother from the rights and 
privileges of Masonry for the non-payment of such dues. — 
Page 174—1851. 

Resolved, That all subordinate Lodges be forbidden the 
giving of Masonic relief to any who shall not, to the satis- 
faction of such Lodge, have proved themselves regularly 
affiliated Masons.— Page 126—1855. 



MASONIC CODE. 97 

Resolved, That the Grand Lodge hereby discourages the 
subordinate Lodges from affording relief, as a mere matter 
of convenience, to traveling brethren. — Page 126 — 1855. 

Resolved, That this Grand Lodge approves of the system 
of distributing Masonic charity pursued by the Board of 
Belief of the cities of New York and Brooklyn, and recom- 
mends her subordinate Lodges in those cities to cooperate 
therein, and to the Lodges in other cities of the jurisdiction 
the adoption of a similar plan. — Page 152 — 1857. 

That a Lodge may appropriate its funds for benevolent 
purposes, disconnected from Masonry, if its ability to meet 
all its obligations is not thereby impaired. — Pages 29 and 
256—1859. 

That the system of pecuniary benefits belongs to modern 
societies, is unknown to Ancient Craft Masonry, and is in 
conflict with its well known principles. — Pages 20 and 176 
—1861. 

That the bestowment of charity upon the needy and 
dependent is one of the great Christian virtues of men, and 
especially Masons, yet a distinction should be made between 
those who claim as a right and those who ask as a favor; 
by section 51 of the Constitutions, if a brother does not 
continue his connection with the Order, and ceases to be 
an affiliated Mason, thereby ignoring by his indifference 
those high-toned, heavenly Masonic principles, then his 
claim for relief is founded upon the law of common human- 
ity, and not upon Masonic obligation, and although not 
entitled to relief as a right, the Lodge may extend it to him 
as a favor.— Page 173—1861. 

The three brethren designated by a Grand Officer to 
decide and report on an application for charity or relief 
6 



98 NEW YORK 

must be selected from two or more Lodges, but not neces- 
sarily from three. Constitutions, sections 55, 65. — Pages 
31 and 206—1862. 

Relative to Suspensions, Expulsions and Restorations. 

When a member of a Lodge has been tried upon charges 
preferred against him by the Lodge to which he belongs or 
an individual member thereof, and has been found guilty, 
and suspended or expelled by a vote of his Lodge, from 
that time his right to Masonic intercourse ceases; the 
judgment of the Lodge remains in full force and effect until 
reversal on appeal. 

He may be restored to his previous Masonic rights by a 
vote of the Grand Lodge, on application to that body, at 
the expiration of one year from the time of suspension and 
expulsion. Such restoration does not in any way affect the 
judgment of the Lodge, but only relieves him from its 
further operation. Unless, therefore, the judgment of the 
Lodge is reversed on appeal, or the offending party restored 
by a vote of the Grand Lodge, he cannot lawfully hold 
Masonic intercourse with Masons in good standing. — Page 
134—1857. 

A Lodge has no right, after the first suspension has 
expired, it being for a time limited, to extend the term of 
suspension, without new charges and a new trial. — Pages 
30 and 206—1862. 

An expelled or suspended Mason can only be restored to 
the rights and privileges of Masonry, and to membership, 
by petition, its reference to a Committee, a favorable report 
thereon, and his unanimous acceptance by the Lodge. 
(The Grand Lodge modified this decision as follows:) An 
expelled Mason is deprived of all his Masonic rights as 
completely as if he had never possessed them, and hence 



MASONIC CODE. 99 

unanimity is required to restore him to Masonry and mem- 
bership, but as the removal of a suspension restores to 
membership, a majority is sufficient. — Pages 30 and 207 — 
1862. 

A majority of the members of any Lodge may expel any 
member thereof who has been tried by a Commission who 
recommended this penalty. — Pages 34 and 206 — 1862. 

A Lodge has not the right or power, legally, to suspend 
a member for non-payment of dues. — Pages 36 and 206 — 
1862. 

The amendment of the Constitutions adopted in 1860, 
limiting the restoration to one year on a vote of two-thirds, 
applied to all persons who were non-affiliated at the time 
of its passage.— Pages 36 and 206—1862. 

In deference to the decisions heretofore made by the 
Grand Lodge, it is competent for a Lodge to change an 
acquittal by a Commission to a suspension. — Pages 34 and 
206—1862. 

Resolved, That pending a motion for restoration a notice 
of intended appeal does not stay the proceedings, and the 
question must be taken. — Page 152 — 1864. 

That an expelled Mason may be restored to the rights 
and privileges of Masonry at any time by a majority vote 
of the Lodge that expelled him, or by the Grand Lodge 
after one year from sentence; but in neither case can he be 
restored to Lodge membership, except by petition for 
affiliation after such restoration, and an unanimous ballot 
thereon, as in the case of any other non-affiliated Mason. — 
—Pages 27 and 164—1864. 

Relative to Places of Meeting. 

Resolved, That any Lodge in this jurisdiction which shall 



100 NEW YORK 

hold its meetings in the same room with any Lodge of 
irregular and clandestine Masons subjects itself to the dis- 
ciplinary action of this Grand Lodge, such acts being 
strictly forbidden.— Page 238—1853. 

That although the warrant of a Lodge locates it in a 
particular town, and it may be held anywhere in that town, 
on compliance with the provisions of section 20; yet its 
territorial jurisdiction extends but half way to the nearest 
Lodge, although such last-mentioned Lodge be in a different 
town, and thereby acquires jurisdiction over the largest 
portion of such adjoining town. — Pages 28 and 256 — 1859. 

Before a Lodge can be removed from one place to another 
all the members must be summoned to attend to decide 
on the question of removal, and two-thirds of the members 
must vote therefor. — Pages 32 and 206 — 1862. 

That a new Lodge may be established in an incorporated 
village, although there is a Lodge already established in 
another incorporated village in the same township, without 
violating section 129 of the Constitutions. — Pages 24 and 
194_1865. 

Relative to tlie Past Master's Degree. 

That a Master must receive the honorary degree of Past 
Master before installation, — Pages 28 and 209 — 1858. 

That when the Past Master's degree is conferred upon a 
newly-elected Master out of a Chapter it must be by at 
least three Past Masters, and Past Masters only shall be 
present who have been duly elected to preside over a Lodge 
of Master Masons.— Pages 30 and 257—1859. 

Relative to Installations. 

That an installation by proxy is regular, but it is recom- 
mended that it be not followed hereafter. — Pages 28 and 209 
—1858. 



MASONIC CODE. 101 

That where officers of a Lodge were irregularly chosen 
through inadvertence, their subsequent regular installation, 
at a stated communication without objection, corrects the 
error.— Pages 30 and 256—1859. 

Resolved, That it is irregular to install a Master elect 
over a subordinate Lodge previous to his being put in 
possession of the secrets of the chair. — Page 157 — 1860. 

That a Master must be installed at each election; that 
none but Past Masters, by actual service, can qualify him 
or be present at that ceremony; but that, after the first 
installation, he need not again be qualified. — Pages 19 and 
176—1861. 

Relative to Striking Name from the Roll* 

That "striking from the roH," as mentioned in section 
49, requires action by the Lodge by vote; and that, as the 
member thereby becomes non-affiliated, it is necessary that 
he petition as an adjoining member, and that his petition 
be referred and balloted on before he can be admitted. — 
Pages 29 and 210—1858. 

That a member who has been stricken from the roll does 
not have to pay any dues during the time of his suspension, 
until he is restored. — Page 217 — 1858. 

That the dues of a member cease to run when he is 
stricken from the roll; and if he has paid his dues previous 
to his proposition for affiliation, he has but discharged an 
honest obligation, and therefore they need not be returned 
to him, in case his proposition be rejected. — Pages 31 and 
256—1859. 

That where a member is stricken from the roll for non- 
payment of dues no proposition for his affiliation can be 
entertained till such dues be paid or discharged. — Pages 31 
and 256—1859.- 



102 NEW YORK 

That the power given to District Deputy Grand Musters, 
in subdivision 4, of section 120, of the Constitutions, 
enabling them to decide in what cases a brother stricken 
from the roll shall be restored without ballot, applies only 
to cases where there has been a manifest irregularity in the 
proceedings. — Pages 21 and 176 — 1861. 

That when a member is stricken from the roll for non- 
payment of dues his contributions cease from that time, 
but that he must pay the amount charged to him at the 
time of striking off before his application for reinstatement 
can be entertained, unless the Lodge choose to remit it. — 
Pages 20 and 176—1861. 

If a brother petitions for affiliation, is duly elected, and 
signs the by-laws, he is a member of the Lodge, and this 
membership can only be terminated: 1. By voluntary 
dimission; 2. By the Lodge ceasing to have a legal exist- 
ence; 3. By suspension or expulsion; or, 4. By being 
stricken from the roll for non-payment of dues. The fees 
to be paid on affiliation are not dues, and no member can 
be stricken from the roll for non-payment thereof. The 
proper course is to prefer charges. — Pages 36 and 206 — 
1862. 

A Lodge has no right to publish the names of those 
stricken from the roll, but should report them to the Grand 
Lodge in its annual returns. — Pages 35 and 206 — 1862. 

If a member is stricken from the roll for non-payment of 
dues for more than one year he can be restored on appli- 
cation, by a two-thirds vote, but only on payment of the 
dues which had accrued up to the time he was so stricken 
from the roll. (Provided application be made within one year 
after the time of striking from the roW— Editoe. )— Pages 36 
and 206—1862. 



MASONIC CODE. 103 

Any member of a Lodge is liable to be stricken from the 
roH on being in arrear for one year's dues; and any indebt- 
edness of the Lodge to the delinquent does not debar the 
Lodge the right to this action, unless there is an agreement 
on the part of the Lodge that the indebtednness shall apply 
in payment of dues. — Pages 35 and 206 — 1862. 

A member having been stricken from the roll for non- 
payment of dues, and remaining so for seven years, the 
Lodge undoubtedly has the right to reject said member 
when applying for reinstatement, if, in their wisdom, they 
think best so to do. The brother has become non-affiliated, 
and must be treated like any other unaffiliated Mason 
applying for membership or affiliation, subject to the 
restrictions mentioned in section 49 of the Constitutions. — 
Page 233—1863. 

That a Lodge has a right to donate a sufficient sum of 
money to pay the dues of a member who has been stricken 
from the roll for the non-payment of dues. — Pages 18 and 
173—1863. 

That a brother, stricken from the roll for non-payment of 
dues, upon payment of his arrearages becomes a non- 
affiliated Mason in good standing, and is entitled to a 
certificate to that effect if he demands it; and he may apply 
either for restoration to membership in his former Lodge 
or affiliation in any other, as he chooses. — Pages 26 and 
164-1864. 

That the officers of a Lodge cannot be stricken from the 
roll for non-payment of dues during their term of office 
without violating the provisions of section 39 of the Consti- 
tutions.— -Pages 24 and 194—1865. 

That it is not optional with a Lodge, in case of a brother 



104 NEY/ YORK 

stricken from the rolls for non-payment of dues, whether 
they require for restoration, payment, petition, and a clear 
ballot, or like payment, application, and a two-third vote. 
The Lodge cannot require any stricter rule in the ballot or 
vote than what the regulation of the Grand Lodge pre- 
scribes, and the brother is entitled to the benefit of the 
most liberal provision. — Page 196 — 1865. 

Resolved, That it be adopted as a General Regulation of 
this Grand Lodge that whenever a subordinate Lodge under 
this jurisdiction has heretofore surrendered, or shall here- 
after surrender, its charter, the members of such Lodge 
previously stricken from its roll for non-payment of dues 
may, upon payment of such dues to the Grand Secretary, 
and the production of his certificate of such fact, apply for 
affiliation to any Lodge of this State, having territorial 
jurisdiction; and such Lodge shall be authorized to accept 
and receive such members in the same manner as they are 
now authorized to accept other non-affiliated brethren in 
good standing. — Page 53—1866. 

Resolved, That it be adopted as a General Regulation of 
this Grand Lodge that no subordinate Lodge shall have 
power to strike from its roll of members, for non-payment 
of dues, any of its officers; but no officer shall be installed 
who, at the time of his installation, shall be in arrears for 
dues.— Page 53— ld66. 

Business of the Lodge in the Third Degree. 

That all business of a Lodge must be transacted in the 
Master's degree, for the reason that none below that degree 
have a right to know what is done in a Master's Lodge, and 
members of a Lodge, that is Master Masons, can only partici- 
pate in its business. — Pages 30 and 209 — 1858. 

That all stated communications of a Lodge must be 



MASONIC CODE. 105 

opened in the third degree: but special communications for 
work and instruction only need not be opened on that 
degree, unless the work requires it. — Pages 26 and 164: — 1864. 

Forfeiture of Office, 

That the failure of an officer to present himself within 
the constitutional time, without satisfactory reason, vacates 
his office.— Pages 30 and 209—1858. 

Reading Grand Xjodge Transactions. 

That it is the duty of every Master to cause the Grand 
Lodge transactions to be publicly read in the Lodge, for 
the information of the brethren. — Pages 31 and 209 — 1858. 

Lodge Disqualified in Grand Lodge. 

That the penalty prescribed for the non-payment of dues, 
in section 123 of the Constitution, is a penalty inflicted 
upon the subordinate Lodges for dereliction of duty, and 
disqualifies the Master and Wardens from acting as the 
representatives of such Lodges. But inasmuch as the 
penalty is expressly leveled at the Lodges, and not at its 
officers, the membership in the Grand Lodge, guaranteed 
by the Constitution, still subsists, stripped of the qualifi- 
cation of voting. — Page 203 — 1858. 

Compensation to Grand Officers. 

Resolved, That all Grand Officers who reside in the city 
of New York receive the same compensation as is paid to 
representatives within said city; and that this be made a 
standing regulation. — Page 225 — 1858. 

Jurisdiction of Grand Lodge. 

That the "jurisdiction" referred to in section 39 of the 
Constitution means the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge, 
coextensive with the State. — Pages 29 and 256 — 1859. 



106 



NEW YORE". 



Relative to Masonic Funerals and Expenses. 

That a brother may be disciplined for refusing to obey a 
summons to attend a Masonic funeral, when he has no 
excuse for non-attendance, it being the disobedience, and 
not the non-attendance, which constitutes the offense.— 
Pages 29 and 256—1859. 

The funeral expenses of a deceased brother should be borne 
by the Lodge of which he was a member, and not by the 
Lodge in whose care he might have died. The principles of 
equity and Masonic justice require this in the absence of 
any positive law on the subject. — Pages 33 and 206 — 1862. 

It is not only not in accordance with Masonic usage or 
custom for a Lodge to join in a funeral procession as a 
Lodge, and with Masonic emblems, when the ceremonies 
are conducted by those who are not Masons, but it is 
censurable and improper. — Page 233 — 1863. 

That a Lodge which has charge of funeral obsequies is 
not bound to invite other Lodges to assist, nor liable to 
censure for omitting to do so, nor does it follow that any 
rule of mere courtesy is violated by such omission. — Page 
197—1865. 

That an Apprentice or Fellow-Craft cannot be buried 
with Masonic honors. — Pages 25 and 194: — 1865. 

Parliamentary Law. 
' That the use of legislative manuals or systems of par- 
liamentary law, ' ' wherever they conflict with Masonic law 
and usage," should be discountenanced in Masonic Lodges. 
—Pages 29 and 256—1859. 

Scientific Lectures* 
That a Lodge may properly and lawfully hear appropriate 
literary or scientific lectures, when it does not hinder or 
embarrass its work. — Pages 30 and 256 — 1859. 



MASONIC CODE. 107 

Calling Off. 

That it is highly censurable for a Lodge to " call off" 
from its work for the purpose of conferring the so-called 
"female degrees," and then resume its labors. — Pages 30 
and 256—1859. 

That it is irregular to call a Lodge from labor to refresh- 
ment from one day to another. The Lodge should always 
be closed.— Pages 26 and 164—1864. 

Powers of* Grand Master. 

That the Master of a Lodge may be suspended from 
office by the Grand Master for proper cause, after charges 
made, and before trial. — Pages 30 and 256 — 1859. 

That the executive powers of the Grand Master, during 
the recess, do not authorize him to restore an expelled 
Mason to the rights and privileges of Masonry, when the 
proceedings have been in all respects regular. — Pages 30 
and 256—1859. 

That during the recess of the Grand Lodge the Grand 
Master alone, or, in his absence, the Deputy Grand Master, 
has power to decide questions of Masonic law in his juris- 
diction.— Pages 20 and 176—1861. 

Power of* Grand Master over tne Records of* a Lodge. 

That the right of a Master over the records of a Lodge 
does not extend to the erasing or omitting anything actually 
done and proper to be recorded, but only to the correctness 
of the record of things done, and the omission of matters 
improper or unnecessary to be recorded. — Pages 30 and 
256—1859. 

Bond from tne Treasurer. 

That to require a bond from the Treasurer of a Lodge is 
unknown to Masonic usage. —Pages 30 and 256 — 1859. 



108 NEW YORK 

Relative to Dimission. 

That dimission from membership in a Lodge is not the 
absolute right of the individual Mason, but requires the 
assent of his Lodge, for satisfactory cause shown. — Pages 
31 and 256—1859. 

That the vote on dimission is but a majority vote, unless 
otherwise prescribed by the by-laws of the Lodge. — Pages 
31 and 256—1859. 

That a dimit can only be lawfully granted on the personal 
application of the brother desiring it, or on a written request 
signed by him.— Pages 21 and 176—1861. 

When a dimit is granted by a vote of the Lodge it ter- 
minates the connection of the member with the Lodge, and 
he can only renew his membership by a new application 
and the unanimous vote of the Lodge. — Pages 32 and 207 — 
1862. 

A Lodge is not bound to grant a dimit to a member who 
is in constant violation of the rules of Masonry, by the 
entertainment of feelings of malignity toward members of 
the Lodge. Masonry tolerates no deception, no duplicity. — 
Pages 33 and 206—1862. 

(The Committee on Jurisprudence, in a report which was 
accepted by the Grand Lodge, rule as follows): We regard the 
provision of the Constitutions, which defines what is dimis- 
sion, to be but little more than an affirmance of the fact that 
the joint act of which it speaks is that the member must 
apply for, and the Lodge must grant, the dimit asked, if 
the applicant be in good standing, and be not a Master or 
Warden of his Lodge.— Page 173—1863. 

That a dimit once having been granted by a vote of the 
Lodge, that vote cannot be reconsidered, even though the 



MASONIC CODE. 109 ; 

non-affiliated brother should again petition, and the Lodge 
should unanimously vote to reconsider. When once a, 
dimit has been granted and accepted, the brother dimitting- 
can return to the Lodge in the same manner only as any- 
other unaffiliated Mason would enter it. — Pages 18 and; 
173—1863. 

That a dimit is simply the severance of Lodge member- 
ship, and is complete when the brother has paid his in- 
debtedness to the Lodge, and the Lodge has, by resolution, 
consented to such severance. The act of the Lodge severs 
the membership, not the issuing of the certificate by the 
Secretary. The certificate of dimission is merely evidence of 
the joint act of the Lodge, and the member by which such 
membership was terminated, and does not necessarily 
include a recommendation of the brother. — Pages 25 and 
194—1865. 

Relative to Votes in a Lodge. 

That all votes in a Lodge" are but majority or plurality* 
votes, (except those for candidates and for affiliation or 
honorary membership,) unless the by-laws of the Lodge- 
otherwise prescribe. — Pages 31 and 256 — 1859. 

Relative to By-Laws. 

That the by-laws of new Lodges, or those of old Lodges 
adopting new by-laws, be referred to the District Deputy- 
Grand Masters of their respective districts, with power, 
and that this be a standing regulation of this Grand Lodge.. 
—Page 284—1859. 

That a Lodge has a right to make a by-law requiring, 
the payment of dues, and to enforce a lesser penalty than 
striking from the roll, for non-compliance therewith. — Pages; 
19 and 176—1861. 



110 NEW YOBK 

The express mention in the Constitutions, that "it shall 
be lawful for a Lodge to make by-laws exempting its Secre- 
tary, Chaplain, and Titer from dues,' 5 is a denial of such 
authority as to any other member, except in case of an 
indigent brother applying for affiliation, this class of cases 
being also expressly mentioned.— -Pages 33 and 206—1862. 

When a Lodge adopts a code of by-laws they are the 
governing rules of the Lodge, when not in conflict with 
the Constitutions, until changed by the Lodge itself, or until 
modified, changed, or revoked by the Grand Lodge. — Pages 
33 and 206—1862. 

Against tlie Use of Masonic Emblems. 
That the practice of placing Masonic emblems upon 
business signs is in direct violation of the spirit of the 
principles of Freemasonry, and a stigma and reproach 
upon the Order, and is hereby disapproved. — Pages 137 
and 191—1860. 

A hotel-keeper who makes use of Masonic emblems on 
his sign, or in his bar for the purpose of drawing custom, 
or for any other improper purpose, is liable to be disciplined 
for it, and if, after being admonished by the Master to 
remove them, he persists in the practice, charges should 
be preferred against him, and he be tried and punished. — 
Pages 34 and 206—1862. 

Resolved, That every Mason in this jurisdiction is strictly 
forbidden to use any of the emblems of the Fraternity in 
connection with a business advertisement, unless such busi- 
ness be of a strictly Masonic character, and the several 
Lodges are hereby directed to discipline any brother who 
continues to do so after being duly warned to discontinue 
the same. — 1866. 



MASONIC CODE. Ill 

Relative to Surrendering "Warrant. 

That when the members of a Lodge so far lose their 
interest in its welfare as to neglect its meetings and refuse 
to pay their dues, thereby preventing the Lodge from dis- 
charging its obligations, they should save their remaining 
credit (if any) by surrendering the warrant. — Pages 20 and 
176—1861. 

The voluntary surrender of a Lodge warrant suspends the 
Master from the functions of his office, and all his powers 
and privileges as Master thereupon cease, except the respect 
due to his standing, position, and intelligence. — Pages 32 
and 206—1862. 

In relation to the number required to surrender the war- 
rant of a Lodge as provided in section 20, subdivision 2, of 
the Constitution. The Grand Lodge decided "that the 
word 'majority' should be acccepted in its ordinary signifi- 
cation as the greatest number, or one more than half of 
those voting on the question." — Page 208 — 1862. 

That a Lodge having surrendered its charter members 
who have been stricken from the roll for non-payment of 
dues must pay the amount of their arrearages to the Grand 
Secretary, and, upon his certificate of the facts, any Lodge 
may receive such member by affiliation. — Pages 24 and 
194—1865. 

Report of Committee of Investigation. 

That a report of a Committee of Investigation, if made 
in writing, signed by the Committee, and delivered to the 
Secretary, is lawfully in possession of the Lodge, and on 
its presentation by the Secretary the Lodge may proceed to 
act upon it whether the Committee are present or not. — 
Pages 20 and 176—1861. 



112 NEW YORK 

Relative to Work afid Lectures. 

That section 110 (of the Constitutions, in relation to 
work and lectures,) is imperative and binding on all Lodges 
and Masons in this jurisdiction, and that hence any Master 
of a Lodge or other Mason entering into a combination 
(secret or otherwise) for the purpose of teaching and dis- 
seminating any other system of work than that approved 
by the Grand Lodge, and taught by the Grand Lecturer 
and his assistants, is guilty of violating his covenant, and 
subject to discipline. — Pages 21 and 176 — 1861. 

It is not proper for a Lodge to hold meetings for the 
purpose of instructing the brethren in the standard work 
and lectures by others than its own officers and members, 
unless the person so giving instruction is the Grand Lec- 
turer, or a brother authorized by him therefor. — Pages 35 
and 206—1862. 

It is not proper for any person to impart the work and 
lectures without being "duly authorized," unless it is a 
"competent brother" invited by a Master or one of the 
Wardens to officiate, ' ' for the time being, while engaged in 
the regular labors of the Lodge."— Pages 35 and 207—1862. 

Every Lodge must adopt and practice the work and 
lectures imparted by the Grand Lecturer or Assistant Grand 
Lecturers, and no other; and any Lodge practicing any 
other system of work their charter will be arrested if they 
do not desist therefrom after a prudent yet respectful 
admonition of the consequences to ensue therefrom. — 
Pages 35 and 206—1862. 

That the authority to impart the standard work and lec- 
tures to a subordinate Lodge, alluded to in section 111 of 
the Constitution, may be conferred by the Grand Master or 



MASONIC CODE. 113 

Grand Lecturer, but must not be given to persons bailing 
from otber jurisdictions, or to impart otber than the work 
and lectures approved by this Grand Lodge. — Pages 26 and 
164—1864. 

That it is the duty of Lodges to adopt and practice the 
standard work and lectures of this Grand Lodge, and a 
refusal so to do subjects them to discipline; and while the 
Grand Master may not deem it advisable to take official 
cognizance of mere remissness in this regard, yet where a 
Lodge, already proficient in the standard work, substitutes 
another system, there can be no excuse for such defiance 
of Grand Lodge authority, and it will not be disregarded. 
-—Pages 26 and 164—1864. 

General Eegulation. — No application for a warrant 
shall be entertained by this Grand Lodge unless the same 
shall be accompanied by the certificate of the Grand Lec- 
turer or his Assistant that the several officers named in such 
application are in possession of the work and lectures 
adopted by this Grand Lodge, and are competent to practice 
and impart the same. — Page 73 — 1865. 

Military and Political Questions. 

Masonry, as an organization, has nothing to do with 
political governments, and the institution, as such, has no 
right to mingle in their affairs. — Pages 30 and 206 — 1862. 

The duty of all Masons is to be loyal to the government 
of the country under which they live, and not be concerned 
in plots and conspiracies against the same. — Pages 30 and 
206—1862. 

Neither the Grand Master nor Past Grand Masters of 
New York have any authority to represent the Fraternity of 
this State in any national convention of a political character. 
—Pages 30 and 206—1862. 

6 



114 . NEW YORK 

The Grand Master has no right to give his official sanction 
to the raising of a military regiment to be formed of Masons, 
to be engaged in the civil war in which this or any other 
country is involved. —Pages 30 and 206—1862. 

Relative to Ordinary Debts, 

A brother who has contracted a just debt ought to pay it, 
and will pay it, if he conforms to the requirements of 
Masonic law, providing it is in his power to do so ; and this 
rule applies to all Masons in respect to debts owing to those 
outside as well as to those who are members of our Frater- 
nity, but no Mason can be expelled or suspended from his 
rights and privileges as a Mason, or from his membership 
in a Lodge, for the non-payment of a debt, unless it be 
made affirmatively to appear in evidence that it was con- 
tracted with intent or design to deceive, cheat, or defraud 
the creditor.— Pages 30 and 206—1862. 

Permanent Removal of the Master from tlie State. 

The permanent removal of the Master of a Lodge from 
this State to another vacates his office, but not his mem- 
bership, in the Lodge.— Pages 31 and 206—1862. 

Relative to District Deputy Grand Masters. 

The Grand Master will not interfere with the acts or 
decisions of the District Deputy Grand Masters without 
giving them a chance to be heard in respect to the matters 
complained of. They must be notified of appeals from 
their acts and decisions. — Pages 32 and 206 — 1862. 

That District Deputy Grand Masters have no jurisdiction, 
upon petition or memorial, to reverse or set aside a sentence 
of expulsion pronounced by a Lodge, after the time of 
appeal has elapsed. Their judicial powers are limited to 
cases of appeal as specified in sub. 2, of sec. 120, of the 
Constitution.— Pages 27 and 164—1864. 



MASONIC CODE. 115 

That it is the right of a District Deputy Grand Master to 
visit the Lodges in his district at any and all times, and the 
duty of Lodges to receive and acknowledge him as such; 
and a Master refusing to admit him when announced in his 
official character is subject to discipline. — Pages 27 and 164 
—1864. 

That the power given to District Deputy Grand Masters 
in sub. 4, of sec. 120, to determine and order in what cases 
a brother stricken from the roll for non-payment of dues 
shall be restored without ballot, applies only to cases where 
there has been manifest irregularity in the original pro- 
ceedings, or the brother was illegally stricken from the roll ; 
for, if legally stricken from the roll, no power can restore 
him to membership except the Lodge. — Pages 27 and 164 
—1864. 

General Regulation. — It shall be the duty of the several 
District Deputy Grand Masters to prepare and present to 
the Grand Lodge, at its annual communication, a statistical 
report, in tabular form, of the condition of each Lodge in 
their respective districts for the year ending on the first of 
May preceding such annual communication, and it shall be 
the duty of the Grand Secretary to prepare and furnish to 
the several District Deputy Grand Masters the necessary 
blanks for the purpose of such reports. — Page 73—1865. 

Lawful Masonic Information. 
Sitting in open Lodge with a brother, or avouchment by 
a brother who has done so, or through personal examina- 
tion, either constitutes "lawful Masonic information." — 
Pages 34 and 206—1862. 

Lodge Meetings on Sundays. 

A Lodge has no right to hold its meetings on Sunday, or 



116 NEW YORK 

to install its officers on that day. This is strictly forbidden 
by the laws of the Grand Lodge. — Pages 34 and 206 — 1862. 

Candidate Assuming Another Name. 
That when a person assumes a name which is not his 
own for the purpose of deception, and with a view to being 
proposed and accepted in Masonry, and is thus proposed 
and accepted, he commits an offense against Masonry, for 
which he should be disciplined, if he should have been 
made before the discovery of his error. If not previously 
made a Mason, then he should immediately become the 
subject of a new ballot, which the Master must order to be 
had, on motion or without.— 1866. 

Right to Exclude a Brother. 

That the authority of the Master over his Lodge is ample 
to protect himself and his brethren from insult and injury; 
but it cannot be exercised to the exclusion of the rights of 
a member in good standing. The right of a member to 
meet with the brethren in the Lodge is equal with that of 
the Master, and only to be taken from him by forfeiture 
through unmasonic conduct. The disturbance anticipated 
by admitting the member may be produced through the 
fault of those in the Lodge, and not by the member who is 
sought to be excluded. If the brother becomes disorderly 
he may be removed by order of the Master — until then his 
seat cannot be disputed if in all respects in good standing. 
—Page 193—1862. 

Relative to Affiliation. 

That a brother cannot be received as an affiliating member 
of a Lodge unless he produces his dimit, or shows sufficient 
cause for its non-production. — Pages 18 and 173 — 1863. 

An application for affiliation, if rejected, may be renewed 



MASONIC CODE. 117 

in the same Lodge, or presented to another, at any time and 
as often as it may please the brother so to do. — Pages 25 
and 194—1865. 

Communications from Grand Master. 

That it is the duty of a Lodge to receive all communi- 
cations from the Grand Master, and place them on file, or 
spread them on its minutes, as the Lodge, by its vote, may 
direct. Such communications must be received and acted 
upon.— Pages 18 and 173—1863. 

Relative to Approved Minutes. 

That when a Lodge has approved the Secretary's minutes 
at the close of its communication, they cannot, at a subse- 
quent meeting, order the Secretary to expunge any portion 
of the correct record, unless it contains something improper 
to be written. — Pages 25 and 164 — 1864. 

Relative to Summons* 

That the Master may in person summon the members of 
the Lodge verbally; but when served by a third person, a 
summons must be in writing, and signed by the Master, or 
by the Secretary attested by the seal of the Lodge. — Pages 
26 and 164—1864. 

Making Masons Illegally. 

That a person made a Mason in a legally constituted 
Lodge, although in violation of the Constitution or Land- 
marks of Masonry, is not clandestine, but a regular Mason, 
and cannot be denied the rights and benefits of the Frater- 
nity. It is the Lodge alone that is at fault, and it alone 
should be punished. — Pages 26 and 164 — 1864. 

Relative to Hall and Asylum Fund. 

Resolved, That until the Masonic Hall and Asylum are 
erected, in accordance with the original plan, no appro- 



118 NEW YORK 

priation shall be made by the Grand Lodge, except for 
necessary expenses and charitable purposes. — Page 41 — 
1864. 

Besolved, That the District Deputy Grand Masters be 
instructed, in their official visitations, in their respective 
districts, to present and explain to the several Lodges the 
object of the Hall and Asylum Fund, and urge upon the 
several Lodges the importance of the accomplishment of 
that object by liberal contributions, either from the Lodges 
or individual members. — Page 42 — 1864. 

Funds not to be Used for Convivial Purposes. 

Resolved, That, as a general rule, a Lodge has no right to 
appropriate its funds for the purposes of convivial enter- 
tainments.— Page 137—1864. 

Relative to Military Lodges. 

Resolved, That the further establishment or continuance 
of Military Lodges is inexpedient, on the ground both of 
right and utility. —Page 137—1864. 

Relative to Closing the Lodge. 

Resolved, That a Master has no right to close his Lodge 
indefinitely, subject to his call or summons. — Page 13 — 1864. 

Relative to Cyphers or Mnemonics. 

Resolved, That in the opinion of the Grand Lodge of the 
State of New York the printing and publication in ' ' cypher 
or mnemonics" of any portion of the Ritual of Masonry, 
not purely monitorial, is a shameful departure from Masonic 
propriety, and a violation of Masonic obligation, and 
receives the unqualified condemnation of this Grand Lodge. 
—Page 185—1864. 

Relative to Evidence in a Court of" Record. 

That a decree of conviction of adultery is as good evi- 



MASONIC CODE. 119 

dence of the commission of a Masonic crime as the decree 
of conviction in a case of felony, such decree of judgment 
remaining unreversed and unimpeached. The proposition 
is that the judgment of every court of record having com- 
petent jurisdiction is of equal authority as evidence upou 
any matters embraced within either of them. — Page 197 — 
1865. 

Withdrawing Petition Before Ballot. 

That a petition for affiliation may be withdrawn before 
ballot with the consent of the Lodge, but the petition to 
be made a Mason cannot be withdrawn after reference 
under any circumstances. — Pages 25 and 194 — 1865. 

Paying Dues during Definite Suspension. 

That definite suspension does not exonerate a member 
from payment of dues during such suspension. — Pages 25 
and 194^-1865. 

Relative to Act of Incorporation. 

Kecommended that all Lodges in this jurisdiction, now 
incorporated by special act, surrender said act and take 
the necessary steps to enable them to have the benefit of 
the act passed at the last session of the Legislature. — 1866. 

Miscellaneous. 

Resolved, That the R. W. Grand Secretary be required to 
procure suitable books for the use of the Grand Master 
and the Deputy Grand Master, in which shall be recorded 
from time to time all orders, decrees and decisions made 
by them during their terms of office — the same to be pre- 
served in the archives of this Grand Lodge, and transmitted 
to their successors in office. — Page 267 — 1859. 

The points of the compasses, when placed on the altar, 
should point to the west. The other great lights and their 



120 NEW YORK 

jDOsition and direction will be fixed from this starting point, 
in the mind of any intelligent Mason. — Page 35 — 1862. 

Resvlyed, That every Lodge which has heretofore or may 
hereafter receive a warrant from this Grand Lodge procure 
a suitable seal therefor within three months thereafter, 
unless already provided with such seal. — Page 205 — 1862. 

That in the absence of the Senior Warden, or when he is 
acting as Master, the Junior Warden does not succeed to 
his duties; but the station must be filled by temporary 
appointment by the Master. — Pages 25 and 164 — 1864. 

That a brother cannot be received as an affiliating member 
of a Lodge unless he produce a certificate of dimission, or 
shows sufficient cause for its non-production. — Pages 25 
and 164—1864. 

Past Grand Officers from other jurisdictions, upon 
affiliating with a Lodge in this jurisdiction, do not become 
members of our Grand Lodge. — Pages 25 and 194 — 1865. 

That there is no impropriety in Lodges joining civic 
processions, but Masonic clothing and insignia should only 
be worn when engaged in Masonic duties. — Pages 25 and 
194_1865. 

Resolved, That it be adopted as a General Eegulation of 
this Grand Lodge that "whenever a candidate shall apply 
for degrees to any other Lodge than that nearest his place 
of residence, except where Lodges exercise concurrent 
jurisdiction, no action shall be taken on such application 
until notice thereof shall have been given to the Lodge 
nearest his place of residence; and such Lodge, in case 
such candidate shall be received, shall be entitled to the 
fees therefor, at any time within one year, upon demand of 
the same.— Page 53—1866." 



INDEX. 



Old Charges. 

Concerning God and Keligion 3 

Of the Civil Magistrate Supreme and Subordinate 3 

Of Lodges 4 

Of Masters, Wardens, Fellows and Apprentices 5 

Of the Management of the Craft in Working 6 

Of Behavior in the Lodge when Constituted 7 

" " after the Lodge is over 8 

" •« when Brethren meet, but not in a Lodge 8 

" " in presence of Strangers not Masons 9 

" " at home and in your neighborhood 9 

" " toward a strange Brother 9 

Constitutions and General Regulations. 

Of Masonic Government 11 

Of Masonic Laws 12 

Of Grand Lodges 17 

Of Subordinate Lodges 18 

Of Individual Masons 21 

Of Grand Lodge Officers 22 

Of Subordinate Lodge Officers 24 

Of the Powers of Officers 25 

Of Penalties 26 

Of Trial and its Incidents 28 

Of Charity 30 

Of the Duties of Officers 31 

Of Duties of Lodges and Members 36 

Of the Regulations of the Grand Lodge 38 

Of Revenue and Funds 40 

Of Salaries and the Pay of Representatives 42 

Of Work and Lectures 43 

Of Masonic Districts 44 

Of District Deputy Grand Masters 44 

Miscellaneous Provisions 48 

Of Local Regulations 50 

Of Future Amendments and new Regulations 51 



122 INDEX. 

Resolutions and Decisions. 

A. 

Act of Incorporation 119 

Admission and Advancement of Candidates, Relative to 64 

Advancement and Admission of Candidates 64= 

Affiliation, Relative to 116 

Against the Use of Masonic Emblems 110 

Ancient and Accepted Rite no authority over the Three Degrees ... 96 
Approved Minutes 117 

B. 

Balloting for Candidates 70 

Bond from the Treasurer 187 

Business of the Lodge in the Third Degree 104 

By-Laws, Relative to 109 

c. 

Calling Off 107 

Candidate Assuming False Name 116 

Candidates, Balloting for 70 

Candidates from other Jurisdictions, Relative to 72 

Candidates, Jurisdiction over 56 

Candidates, Qualifications of, Relative to 69 

Candidates, Rejected 60 

Candidates, Relative to Maimed 63 

Charges, Junior Warden to Present 90 

Charges, Relative to Force and Service of 86 

Charitable Relief, Relative to 96 

Closing Lodge Indefinitely 118 

Committee of Investigation, Report of Ill 

Commissioners and their Reports, Relative to 90 

Communications from the Grand Master . . ... 117 

Compensation to Grand Officers 105 

Conferring Degrees and Proficiency 58 

Convivial Purposes, Funds not to be Used for 118 

Court of Record, Judgment of. 118 

Cyphers or Mnemonics, Relative to 118 

D. 

Debts, Relative to Ordinary 114 

Degrees and Proficiency, Conferring 58 



INDEX. 123 

Dimission, Relative to 108 

Dispensation, Lodges under, Relative to 77 

Disqualified, Lodge, in Grand Lodge 105 

District Deputy Grand Masters Instructed Relative to Hall and 

Asylum Fund a 118 

District Deputy Grand Masters, Relative to 114 

Dues and Fees, Relative to 81 

Dues must be paid in old Lodge by Petitioners for Dispensation 81 

Dues to be paid during Definite Suspension 119 

Eh 

Election in Lodges, Relative to Holding 95 

Election of Master, Relative to the 92 

Election of Wardens, Relative to the 91 

Eligibility of a Warden for Master 92 

Emblems, Against the use of Masonic 110 

Evidence in a Court of Record 118 

Exclude a Brother, Right to 116 

Expelled Mason Cannot Testify 86 

Expulsions, Restorations and Suspensions, Relative to 98 

F. 

Fees and Dues, Relative to. .... ." 81 

Force of Charges, Relative to Service and 68 

Forfeiture of Office „ 105 

Funds not to be used for Convivial Purposes 118 

Funerals and Expenses, Masonic 106 

G. 

Grand Lodge Jurisdiction 105 

Grand Lodge Transactions, Reading : 105 

Grand Master, Communications from the 117 

Grand Master, Powers of 107 

Grand Officers, Compensation to 105 

H. 

Hall and Asylum Fund 117 

Honorary Members, Relative to 75 

I. 

Illegally Making Masons 118 

Improper Appropriations of Lodge Funds 118 



124 



INDEX. 



Incorporation, Act of 119 

Installations, Relative to 100 

Insurance on Property 96 

Intemperance 55 

Investigation, Report of Committee of Ill 

J. 

Junior Warden to Present Charges 90 

Jurisdiction of Grand Lodge 105 

Jurisdiction of a Lodge, Relative to 58 

L. 

Law, Parliamentary 106 

Lawful Masonic Information 115 

Lectures, Scientific 103 

Libraries, Masonic, Relative to 94 

Lodge Disqualified in Grand Lodge 105 

Lodge Meetings on Sunday 115 

Lodge, Relative to Jurisdiction of 58 

Lodges, Relative to holding Election in 95 

Lodges under Dispensation, Relative to 77 

M. 

Mnemonics or Cyphers, Relative to 118 

Maimed Candidates, Relative to 63 

Making Masons Illegally 117 

Masonic Emblems, Against the use of , 110 

Masonic Funerals and Expenses 106 

Masonic Information, Lawful 115 

Masonic Libraries, Relative to 94= 

Masons, Non-affiliated 74 

Master, Relative to Election of the 92 

Masters and Wardens, Relative to 92 

Meeting, Places of, Relative to , 99 

Meetings on Sunday, Lodge 115 

Members, Honorary, Relative to 7< 

Membership in two Lodges 75 

Membership, Relative to 73 

Military and Political Questions 113 

Military Lodges, Relative to 118 

Minutes, Relative to Approval 117 



INDEX. 125 

Miscellaneous 119. 120 

Grand Secretary to furnish books for the Grand and Deputy- 
Grand Masters. 
Relative to placing the Lights on the Altar. 
Past Grand Officers from other jurisdictions do not become 
members of this Grand I Ige. 

Masonic clothing not co be worn only when engaged in 
Masonic duties. 
Lodge must procure a seal. 

Junior Warden does not succeed to the duties of the Senior 
Warden. 

Relative to paying fees to the nearest Lodge to the candi- 
date's residence. 

Brother cannot be received unless he produces certificate of 
dimission. 

K 

Name, from the Roll, Striking , . 101 

Non-affiliated Masons, Relative to 74 

0. 

Office, Forfeiture of 105 

Other Jurisdictions, Relative to Candidates from 27 

" P. 

Parliamentary Law 106 

Past Grand Officers, Who are 94 

Past Master's Degree, Relative to 100 

Paying Dues during Definite Suspension 119 

Permanent Removal of the Master from the State . .. 114 

Petition before Ballot may be Withdrawn 119 

Petitioners for Dispensation must pay Dues in old Lodge 81 

Places of Meeting, Relative to 99 

Political and Military Questions 113 

Powers of the Grand Master 107 

Prayers, Sectarian, Not to be used 94 

Profanity. Relative to 55 

Proficiency, Conferring Degrees and 58 

Property, Insurance on 96 

Q. 

Qualifications of Candidates, Relative to 69 

Qualifications, Religious 95 



/ 



9W 



126 INDEX. 

&r 

R. 

Reading Grand Lodge Transactions 105 

Rejected Candidates 60 

Relief, Charitable, Relative to 90 

Religious Qualifications 95 

Removal of the Master from the State 113 

Reports, Relative to Commissioners and their 90 

Residence, Relative to 55 

Restorations, Suspensions and Expulsions, Relative to 98 

Right to Exclude a Brother 116 

Roll, Striking Name from the 101 

S. 

Scientific Lectures 106 

Sectarian Prayers not to be used 94 

Service and Force of Charges, Relative to 86 

Striking Name from the Roll 101 

Summons, Relative to 117 

Surrendering Warrant, Relative to Ill 

Suspensions, Expulsions and Restorations 98 

T. 
Taxation, Relative to 95 

Testify. Expelled Masons cannot 86 

Testimony, Witnesses and Trials, Relative to 83 

Third Degree, Business of the Lodge in the 104 

Treasurer, Bond from the 107 

Trials, Relative to Witnesses, Testimony and 83 

Two Lodges, Membership in 75 

V. 

Visitors' Book 56 

Visitors, Relative to 77 

Votes in a Lodge, Relative to 109 

W. 

Warden for Master, Eligibility of a 92 

Wardens, Relative to the Election of 91 

Wardens, Relative to Masters and 92 

Warrant, Relative to Surrendering ' Ill" 

Witnesses, Testimony and Trials, Relative to 83 

Withdrawing Petition before Ballot . . 119 

Work and Lectures, Relative to 112 



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